Omega Refrigeration is well known as a refrigeration specialist with regards to display cabinet manufacturing and refrigeration systems for supermarkets and other stores, but the company also offers other services within the industry.

A company as experienced as Omega, with over 75 years of combined experience to count on, provides a selection of additional services thanks to the many years in which it has operated within a niche industry such as commercial refrigeration.

The services that Omega offers include professional refrigeration consultation for stores, project planning, as well as the renowned servicing department, which is always open and available to clients.

One of the many professional services that are offered to clients through Omega's experienced team of refrigeration consultants and engineers is refrigeration consultation, which is the process of lending their advanced expertise to businesses in order to assist with their store design, implementation and project management needs. This involves an equipment audit of both display cabinets and refrigeration systems, with an equipment audit report detailing the efficiencies of the equipment in line with the value chain of Omega.

The consultation also includes a plan proposing the cabinet and refrigeration solution that best suits the client's requirements. Omega is able to assisted clients with their store designs and in particular refrigeration layouts to ensure that the stores provide an enjoyable experience to the consumer.

Part of the Omega promise is to focus on maintaining systems to a world-class level, which is why the company's dedicated service department is on hand to ensure that all issues are professionally and efficiently dealt with before the client even knows that there is a problem.

Thanks to the Omega Eco Monitoring system, problems are diagnosed accurately and quickly so that the company is able to fix the issue and allow the store to continue running optimally. This is done by constantly monitoring the system for any temperature anomalies, so that Omega can immediately see if anything needs addressing and dispatch a service team.

The company's well-trained service department representatives provide clients with peace of mind, as they are not left to deal with issues on their own, and they are able to rely on a comprehensive service from Omega. This ensures that their system is maintained exceptionally 24/7, 365 days of the year.

...

Importance Of Refrigeration Clear During Heat Waves

Heatwaves have hit South Africa during the month of January, with temperatures across the country's provinces skyrocketing to well above average temperatures.

A heatwave is declared when on at least three consecutive days‚ the maximum temperature is more or equal to five degrees higher than the average maximum.

This led the South African Weather Service to put out advisories warning South Africans to be careful in the above average heat.

Messages read: "Very hot to extremely hot conditions will result in extremely uncomfortable conditions ", with people warned to stay indoors, drink lots of water and do what they can to keep cool.

While that is great advice for people, one cannot help but consider the effect of this prolonged heat on the food we eat and specifically on the quality of perishable food if it is not refrigerated appropriately.

Heat waves have battered South Africa this summer, and the safety of the food we consume is under threat as it will inevitably spoil if not stored and refrigerated correctly.

Proteins are specifically susceptible to spoiling in hot weather. Meats and fish are high in animal proteins which are volatile and quickly develop bacteria. The bacteria that forms then leads to cases of food poisoning, vomiting and diarrhoea, and this is statistically most prevalent in South Africa between November and April, as these are the hottest months for the country.

A 2015 World Health Organisation (WHO) report revealed that diarrhoea diseases were responsible for more than half of the global burden of foodborne diseases, causing 550 million people to become sick and leading to 230,000 deaths per year, with children in particular danger.

It is estimated that around 600 million people become ill after consuming contaminated food, much of which is due to lack of sufficient refrigeration. This is especially prevalent in Africa, where temperatures are high in summer months.

Omega Refrigeration has built a reputation as a market-leading company within the global refrigeration industry, and one of the ways in which it has done this is by developing cabinets and systems with state-of-the-art technology that enable refrigeration of the highest quality, ensuring that food is kept well-refrigerated during heat waves and other temperature spikes.

...

Revised Carbon Tax Bill Released For Public Comment

In December, the National Treasury released a revised Carbon Tax Bill for public comment. First published in 2010, not much was mentioned about the tax until it was addressed in the 2017 budget speech documents.

The revised bill introduces a number of key changes, including a proposed R120 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2e) carbon tax rate, a new calculation methodology for the production of electricity from fossil fuels, and special allowances reducing the impact of the carbon tax on electricity producers – mainly Eskom. Because of the way the current bill is structured, the earliest it could be implemented would be in January 2019.

National Treasury published the Draft Carbon Tax Bill for comment in November 2015 with the intention that carbon taxes would be implemented in a phased manner with effect from the beginning of 2017.

The purpose of the 2015 Draft Carbon Tax Bill is to address impacts of climate change and to facilitate a viable and fair transition to a low-carbon economy for South Africa and therefore combat Green House Gas ("GHG") emissions.

Recognising the importance of reducing carbon emissions while appreciating the benefits of a low carbon economy, the South African government has committed to ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 34% by 2020 and 42% by 2025 against a business-as-usual curve.

One of the ways that this can begin to be achieved is through the implementation of a carbon tax, which will be administered by the South African Revenue Service (SARS). While the road and air travel industries are major causes of carbon emissions, refrigeration and air conditioning are also substantial contributors of greenhouse gas emissions.

Most supermarkets and food retail stores make use of refrigeration that almost inevitably leaks some of the refrigerant used. That leakage has a significant environmental impact, because many refrigerants still contain harmful greenhouse gases.

Omega Refrigeration is aware of the need to put the focus on operations within refrigeration that are environmentally friendly, in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint in the stores that use the Omega Refrigeration cabinets and systems.

With carbon tax laws set to be further advanced in South Africa this year, the more energy efficient and less refrigerant-dependant supermarkets become in terms of their refrigeration, the better it is from many perspectives, which is why an association with Omega Refrigeration is beneficial for these retailers.

Omega's self-contained waterloop refrigeration system installed in refrigeration cabinets allows for the reduction of operating costs through better energy efficiency than conventional systems.

At the same time this process reduces carbon emissions, as less refrigerant is needed and there is a much lower rate of leakages - This is due to the fact that Omega factory-tests all units.

Festive Greetings From Omega

The festive season is upon us, and it is that time of year where we step back, review the year that has passed and look forward to the possibilities of the next 12 months.

It has been a good year for Omega Refrigeration, and one that has allowed us to continue our hard work in expanding the company and providing quality services within the refrigeration industry. We will work for more of the same in 2018, with plans to continue expanding and offering our clients even more quality and value as the refrigeration experts.

We also look forward to featuring as one of the major refrigeration brands present at FRIGAIR Expo 2018 in Johannesburg, the only international trade fair in the refrigeration industry in South Africa, which takes place once every three years.

The festive season is a time to be grateful for and spend time with family, friends, and loved ones. We hope that you will be sharing the joy of the season with the people who matter the most to you, and use this time to recharge and prepare for what will be a great 2018.

The festive season is also a time to be thankful and appreciate all of the people who have made 2017 a success, which is why we would like to thank each and every one of you, our clients, suppliers, colleagues and website visitors.

At Omega Refrigeration we are grateful for your support this year, which has allowed us to continue providing unmatched services and innovative products within our industry.

It is because of you, and others like you that we have managed to spread our influence globally in working with stores, the foodservice industry and independent contractors to improve the refrigeration systems and cabinets available.

With your help, we've been able to successfully continue our research and development efforts, while bringing products to market that help save money, time and the environment. We have taken great care to offer clients innovative solutions delivered through experience and genuine appreciation for the businesses we serve, and we will continue to work with the same passion and effort in the coming year.

The Omega Refrigeration team thanks you for your support in 2017, and we look forward to the same support in 2018.

We wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and happy 2018!

...

Omega Featuring At FRIGAIR Expo 2018

Omega Refrigeration will be present at FRIGAIR Expo 2018 in June next year, as one of the many companies within the refrigeration industry planning to feature at the international trade fair for air conditioning and refrigeration in South Africa.

Held every three years in Johannesburg, it is the only international trade fair in the refrigeration industry in South Africa. As refrigeration and energy technology continues to develop rapidly, it is important to remain at the cutting edge and in tune with the latest developments, trends and innovations. This is second nature to Omega Refrigeration, as one of the most innovative companies within the industry, which is why the refrigeration experts will be attending again next year.

The FRIGAIR Expo gives stakeholders within the refrigeration industry a unique platform, and next year's event will attract a collection of developers, engineers, architects, contractors, training providers, entrepreneurs, engineers and designers to learn about the latest innovations and development in the market.

The event is also used as a networking opportunity with regards to chambers of commerce, consulates and agencies with a strong presence in Africa, as well as other like-minded companies within the industry.

The biggest ever FRIGAIR Expo took place at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg during June 2015. This well-organised event attracted a record 4 470 visitors from all over the country and beyond, over the three days.

Omega took advantage of this international trade fair in 2015 to unveil new advancements in its offering to the supermarket and foodservice industries. Two years ago Omega used the platform to introduce the company's 'The Final Solution', namely Omega's self-contained water cooled refrigeration cabinets.

Using the latest patented technology, Omega is now able to offer a unique methodology to cutting costs, consumption and installation time, addressing the needs of the supermarket and foodservice industry while firmly leading that refrigeration industry into the future.

The OIS (Omega Inverter Series) Sistema is at the cutting edge of commercial refrigeration technology. Over 15 years of research and development went into developing this system, with the specific goal of producing energy efficient systems for refrigeration.

Highly efficient horizontal BLDC compressors maximise unit efficiency, while the wide range of modulation of the Power + DC inverter and the E2V stepper electronic expansion valve see that each individual unit always operates in the best working conditions, without being affected by the other units.

Compressor and valve modulation, thanks to intelligent control by OIS, ensures perfect control of food temperature, completely eliminating the typical fluctuations of remote systems, while providing in-depth information on refrigeration system status, and applying advanced algorithms for preventive diagnostics and general maintenance.

The waterloop system is designed so that every cabinet has its own self-contained refrigeration unit with an on-board variable-speed compressor, which is installed in a box either on top or under the cabinet.

Operation is completely monitored by the PlantVisorPRO supervisory system, which shows only the main information needed by specific users at a local and remote level, while also allowing overall system efficiency to be optimised according to the operating conditions of each individual unit. Those in attendance at the FRIGAIR Expo in 2015 were exposed to this incredible technology, and it has transformed the industry.

Many will be attending the 2018 event wondering what advancements and innovations Omega Refrigeration will unveil. Omega Refrigeration will be one of the major exhibitors available at the world-renowned event next year, which will be held at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg between 6-8 June.

...

How Supermarkets Can Save Energy And Costs Through Refrigeration

Commercial refrigeration systems consume on average 6,600 GWh of energy per year. This is enough to power around 1.3 million homes.

Greenhouse gas emissions from commercial refrigeration systems are around 6.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. This is equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from approximately 1.3 million cars.

This weighs heavily on supermarkets, with refrigeration often representing the bulk of their energy requirements and costs. These are a few general suggestions that supermarkets can put into place in terms of refrigeration maintenance to save energy and costs.

Reduce lighting requirements

Lighting can use a great deal of energy in refrigeration systems, especially in display cabinets where products for sale must be attractively presented. Reducing unnecessary light levels and using lower wattage globes or LED lights can be a smart energy saving effort. Lighting should be turned off when not needed, such as at night.

Use less refrigeration space

By using less refrigeration space, less energy will be required and that will cost the supermarket less. Carefully consider your refrigeration requirements and what refrigeration equipment is best suited for your specific supermarket or store.

Consider how much of the non-perishable products need to be stored in refrigerated cabinets. Only stock enough merchandise to meet demand, as any excess will simply be wasting energy unnecessarily. If cooling requirements are seasonal, consider shutting some refrigeration equipment down during low use periods, if they are not strictly required.

Ensure efficient loading of products

A great deal of energy and money can be saved by storing goods in a cool area before loading into refrigerators, as a significant amount of energy is needed to cool products down from the ambient temperature to the refrigerated temperature, especially with regards to high turnover products.

It is important to avoid storing goods in hot areas such as in direct sun on a loading bay before they are brought into the supermarket or store. Transfer pre-cooled products as quickly as possible from one refrigerated environment to another.

Consistent general maintenance

Consistently maintaining and keeping a close eye on the refrigeration in a store is a sure way to save energy and costs. Simple things that can make a world of difference in terms of cost and energy-efficiency include tasks such as reviewing thermostat settings, regularly checking and maintaining door seals, defrosting evaporators regularly, keeping condenser coils clean, and checking that equipment runs smoothly and quietly.

Use energy efficient refrigeration cabinets

Omega Refrigeration's are the most energy efficient cabinets one can buy, at only 4.88 Kw @ -5°C suction per 12' Upright Lofty, versus others at 6kw or more. In comparison, the specifications for most other cabinets will require far more electricity consumption, because they require a larger amount of refrigeration output in order to reach the desired temperature. In certain cases cabinets could require up to 6.5 kw at -7 suction temperature. When considering some of the larger display cabinets in the Omega range, the Omega upright requires 1.89Kw input and only requires 4.66Kw of refrigeration capacity for a lofty.

This saving of power is available across the range of cabinets produced by Omega for the supermarket industry. Omega Manufacturing sets out to design and build the most energy efficient, robust, good-looking food display cabinets available anywhere.

Low operating and maintenance cost is built into the design using the best specialised components available on the world market. At only 4.88 Kw @ -5°C suction per 12' Upright Lofty, Omega Refrigeration have raised the bar for cabinet energy efficiency to a whole new level. Tried and tested in six African countries, Omega cabinets are now available in two full ranges, the Classic range and the Superior range.

...

Omega's State Of The Art Inverter Series

Omega Refrigeration has built a reputation as a market-leading company within the global refrigeration industry, and one of the ways in which it has done this is by developing cabinets with state-of-the-art technology that provides leading industry features for the benefit of supermarkets and stores that use the cabinets in question.

The Omega Inverter Series, which is the official name for the Omega Refrigeration water-loop self-contained cabinet, allowed the company to improve upon the tech in self-contained cabinets to produce something that was unheard of before it Omega unveiled its technologically advanced cabinets.

Over the last decade Omega Refrigeration took what was already an innovative product and made it even better. The company removed the heat produced by self-contained cabinets via a water jacket on the condenser which pipes it out of the store through plastic hoses and a closed-loop cooling unit. The company also made other improvements which have gone on to produce massive cost and energy savings.

The self-contained cabinets were previously problematic in warmer climates, with heat pumped into the stores and forcing air conditioning systems to work overtime to compensate. Omega Refrigeration's innovative system revolutionised this, and allowed for even more cost-saving in warmer parts of the world, such as Africa and parts of Asia.

With all of these improvements finally part of a finished product, Omega launched the first closed water-loop self-contained cabinets on the African market. This technology therefore offers supermarkets and other stores with a viable option to move forward with sleek and energy-efficient cabinets in store.

Various air conditioning and refrigeration events are being held at venues throughout the globe to encourage the meetings of vendors and customers as well as to showcase the latest technology in the field of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration.

There are a number of international refrigeration expos and shows to look forward to during the course of 2018. Here is a list of those that are interesting for the global refrigeration sector.

Omega Refrigeration was present at FRIGAIR Expo 2015 in June, 2015 as one of the many companies within the refrigeration industry that attended the international trade fair for air conditioning and refrigeration in South Africa.

Held every three years in Johannesburg, it is the only international trade fair in the refrigeration industry in South Africa. As refrigeration and energy technology continues to develop rapidly, it is important to remain at the cutting edge and in tune with the latest developments, trends and innovations.

Omega takes advantage of this international trade fair to unveil new advancements in its offering to the supermarket and foodservice industries. This was the case two years ago, when Omega used the platform to introduce the company's 'The Final Solution', namely Omega's self-contained water cooled refrigeration cabinets.

The next FRIGAIR Expo will take place in 2018, and Omega Refrigeration will be one of the major exhibitors available at the world-renowned event.

...

Common Complaints From Installers Regarding Supermarket Maintenance

It is an obvious fact that a better maintained system will always last longer and produce maximum benefits, and this is also the case in terms of supermarket refrigeration.

An important investment such as refrigeration should not be seen as a once-off effort that then requires no more thought or ongoing maintenance, but rather an attitude of constant maintenance and basic principles applied to how the supermarket treats the refrigeration.

Installers have a number of gripes with how the supermarkets they serve go on to ignore fundamental aspects of maintaining the refrigeration systems and display cabinets. Proper post-installation maintenance will ensure that energy costs are minimised and equipment lasts for a long time, before requiring repairs and/or replacement.

With this in mind, here are a few guidelines that can help stores to better maintain their refrigeration in supermarkets.

- Ensure that cold room doors are not left open – this is very common and is a huge waste of energy and can harm the products inside the cold room.

- Reduce the amount of cooling needed when possible, as this will make the refrigeration last longer.

- Load the product when cool, and do not overload the display area of a cabinet.

- Wash down the fridges on a regular basis and ensure that the air flow of fans is not blocked.

- Set thermostat to avoid overcooling.

- Turn lighting off when not needed – basic and obvious, but ignored far too much of the time.

- Maintain the door seals and keep the door(s) closed as much as possible.

- Avoid drafts on open display units, and cover these display units after hours to protect them further with PVC strip curtains.

- Keep equipment defrosted.

- Allow enough air circulation and sufficient ventilation.

- Keep the condenser clean and free of dust.

- Use less refrigeration and energy by ensuring that you have considerably more refrigeration space than is required.

...

Revamping A Store's Refrigeration Has Never Been This Simple

In times gone by, the idea of revamping the refrigeration within a supermarket or other retail store would have brought tears to the eyes of many store owners and operators, but with Omega Refrigeration, the pain of refreshing a store's display cabinets, layout and systems is no more.

Omefa Refrigeration is involved with revamping projects at many stores, which require an improved system, a fresh set of refrigerated cabinets or new layout in their supermarket or store.

The Omega Self-Contained refrigeration cabinet system does not require a plant room. A dry cooler is linked to the cabinets inside from the outside of the store with PVC piping, with a plumber required on site to assist with the installation.

This is ideal as it will be the least disruptive installation for the store, allowing trading to continue while implementation takes place. Conventional installations within the industry vary between 2-4 months, while Omega boast with an installation time of 2-3 weeks, ensuring that business can continue as usual and the short and long-term improvements to the store's refrigeration system can begin to materialise as soon as possible.

This saving in terms of time is huge for the bottom line of any store, and translates into successful operation of a business while undertaking necessary improvements through the revamp.

Omega have extensive experience in consulting on and developing store revamps, working alongside owners to ensure an almost immediate return on their investment. The company is also capable of working well with installation contractors, and welcome to opportunity to do so through the provision of Omega's world-class refrigerated cabinets.

As a trusted supplier to the SPAR Group within South Africa, Omega Refrigeration has assisted with many store revamps across the country, receiving plaudits for the excellent work the company did in ensuring a smooth and efficient transition from old to new, while minimising disruption at the stores.

...

Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Market Set To Exceed $40.87B By 2024

The global commercial refrigeration equipment market is expected to be worth over $40.87 billion by the year 2024, according to a new report by Hexa Research.

The growing number of hypermarkets and supermarkets in developing regions has increased the demand for energy efficient equipment in the recent years, and companies such as Omega Refrigeration are working hard to satisfy demand for quality commercial refrigeration that is energy-efficient. These stores wish to be equipped with advanced products like multi-deck display cabinets and open front cases, with the latest technology built in, which is what Omega Refrigeration does.

Rapid industrialisation and technological advancements continue to lead the industry on an upward growth trajectory, with growth to increase at a CAGR of 5.6% over the forecast period until 2024.

The consistent industrialisation and modernisation present in food retail throughout the world, and especially within developing countries such as South Africa, China and India will assist the global commercial refrigeration equipment industry to continue increasing in value.

Increasing frozen food consumption is building demand for refrigeration of food on a commercial scale. Innovative technology makes remote monitoring of products possible, allowing stores to check for issues such as refrigerant leaks, high liquid levels and abnormal system pressures.

Changes in refrigerant and efficiency regulations are expected to have positive effects with regards to sales of commercial refrigeration equipment in most global markets. This is especially likely in most of the developed world, such as Western Europe and the US, as numerous refrigerants are phased out and commercial settings are focused on a reduction in power usage, forcing commercial refrigeration equipment to be replaced in order to ensure compliance.

It is predicted that reach-in and walk-in refrigerators and freezers will experience high demand during the forecast period. High demand for commercial refrigeration parts will produce further gains for the industry.

Developed markets will require retrofitting of current equipment to ensure energy efficiency, while developing countries will experience growth through the maintenance of existing refrigeration.

This ensures that the coming growth will be catered to by an experienced company with the expertise to provide commercial refrigeration equipment on a grand scale.

...

Display Cabinets For A Variety Of Supermarket Applications

Omega Refrigeration is specialised in the design and manufacturing of a full range of refrigerated display cabinets for various segments of the foodservice and supermarket industries.

The company produces and provides a huge variety of display cabinets ranging from jumbo and wide islands to upright cabinets and upright glass door cabinets, as well as hot food options.

The selection of refrigerated cabinets are the product of over 75 years combined experience in the refrigeration industry, incorporating the latest elements of cabinet manufacturing to allow installers, contractors and store owners to benefit from a product range that is state-of-the-art.

The company offers a wide range of cabinets that are available as self-contained or remote, and installed by approved installers or contractors who work in tandem with the company towards a common goal.

Omega Refrigeration is pleased to partner with installers and contractors concerning the supply of refrigeration cabinets, and they are also capable of designing bespoke cabinets based on custom requirements.

If a supermarket or any client required a specific type of display cabinet for refrigeration within their store, they would be able to approach Omega with their design or specifications, and the refrigeration experts would get to work producing a solution that would cater for the supermarket's specific requirements.

The cabinets are designed with the rising cost of copper, gas, cables and labour in mind, diminishing the need for these elements through intelligent and state-of-the-art manufacturing, thereby reducing costs for the supermarket or end-client.

Available cabinets are produced for use in the following sub-categories within the foodservice and supermarket industries:

Butchery

Bakery

Dairy

Fruit & Veg

Deli

Freezers

Cold Rooms

Self-Serve

Hot-Foods

...

How To Reduce Waste In Cold Rooms

Cold storage rooms are one of the most important refrigeration applications for supermarkets, restaurants and foodservice stores, as these specially built rooms prevent perishable food from spoiling, by refrigerating fresh, pre-cooled and frozen foods such as meat, eggs, dairy products, frozen foods, fish, vegetables, fruit and beverages.

With a product such as meat, for example, the processes that cause it to spoil begin as soon as the animal is slaughtered, so freezing big pieces of meat before they are cut and prepared for customers is crucial, and a cold room provides this storage area with the right properties to preserve the meat at the right temperature and humidity conditions.

Food waste is never good, and aiming to reduce waste in cold rooms positively affects the bottom line for supermarkets while being environmentally aware. Cold room wastage means loss of inventory as well as loss of money, both of which have wide-ranging negative effects for supermarkets and others in food-related industries that may use cold room storage.

Here are a few things you can do to help keep the food and perishable goods in your cold room fresh and reduce waste for your business...

Don't over-pack your cold room

Make sure there is plenty of air circulation in your cold room. Effective cold air circulation prevents mould and other bacteria from growing and flourishing, ensuring less wastage. As well as affecting circulation, over-packing your cold room leads to higher costs as the room will be required to work harder and use more energy to cool all of the items.

Organise food strategically

Think logically when packing your cold room, putting more temperature sensitive foods such as raw meat and fish in the coldest areas of your cold room. As a general rule, a lower shelf at the back of the cold room is where the temperature remains coldest. Keep other items that are not as sensitive in slightly warmer areas of the cold room.

Make sure the temperature is set properly

Depending on what you intend to store in your cold room, items require different temperatures to stay fresh. Find out the best storage temperatures for your specific products and ensure that the cold room is set to the correct temperature range. This may seem obvious, but many people neglect this important consideration, which can have significant long-term benefits in avoiding waste.

Follow the FIFO rule

The FIFO rule means first in, first out, and it refers to the order in which products have been put into the cold room. Whatever food products or perishable goods have been in the cold room the longest should be removed first. It is also important to label items to reduce food waste. Omega Refrigeration is able to design and build cold rooms to the specifications of clients, ensuring that a custom solution which fits requirements is provided. The company deals with any practical challenges and requirements in setting up such an environment for their clients.

...

Omega Enhances Food Quality With Superior Refrigeration

In the same way as Omega Refrigeration has built a reputation for high quality refrigerated cabinets and systems used widely across the supermarket and retail industry, supermarket owners and managers want to build a reputation for fresh produce that is of the highest quality.

Omega Refrigeration can help store owners and managers to do this, through refrigeration that not only enhances food quality, but reduces wastage thanks to superior quality refrigeration – both in terms of the actual cabinets and the systems that run them.

Omega's display cabinets and refrigerated systems are highly efficient, boosting the quality of the food that supermarkets choose to store in them. Every time food heats up, it begins to break down, essentially beginning to rot.

By cooling it as quickly as possible, the commercial refrigeration can protect the cell walls within the food, guaranteeing that vegetables will have more crunch and products such as meat and fish will stay as fresh as customer's expect, for longer.

Excellent refrigeration solutions from Omega will help stop the growth of bacteria, protecting the store in question's reputation in terms of quality and wastage reduction, which will also boost profits and be good for the environment.

Food wastage continues to be a serious problem within the supermarket industry, but with Omega Refrigeration the cabinets are built to withstand South African temperatures in order to keep food at a consistent temperature that ensures longevity of the food and other perishable products stored at cold temperatures.

Supermarkets can rest assured that trusting Omega with their refrigeration needs is a good decision, and the company will always work to overcome all challenges and implement the ideal refrigeration solution to benefit the supermarket concerned, and to enhance the food quality within its refrigerated display cabinets.

...

Omega Refrigeration - A Proudly South African Story

South Africa needs strong, capable and passionate companies in various industries in order to carry it forward, spark the economy and represent the country well on the global and continental stage.

Omega Refrigeration fits that description perfectly, and has from the very beginning, ensuring that the refrigeration expertise available within the company was used to support and uplift supermarkets and stores throughout South Africa and beyond.

Omega Refrigeration is a proudly South African supplier of high quality commercial refrigeration equipment, with its factory and head office located in Johannesburg, and additional sales offices operating in Durban and Cape Town, enabling a countrywide network of offices that represent the Omega brand in all of South Africa's most prominent regions.

Established in 2006, Omega has grown to become a well-respected leader in the industry; with a forward-thinking business strategy that has benefitted the growth of the company in its years of existence.

The company owners have over 75 years combined experience in the refrigeration industry, and this wealth of knowledge and experience is a contributing factor in the satisfaction of clients with the finished product.

As an owner-run company, Omega's mission is to supply refrigeration products of a high quality to various customers who require refrigeration solutions, backed up by excellent customer service.

As the preferred supplier to globally recognised supermarket chain SPAR, Omega take their work very seriously and aim to design and implement innovative refrigeration cabinet solutions that positively impact their customers in terms of cost saving and design quality.

They have always run their business like a family, and treat their staff in the same way, to ensure that they are kept happy and produce the work that customers would expect from a proudly South African company of great experience and ability.

The customers and the installation contractors that Omega Refrigeration work with also become an extended part of their family, and they develop a longstanding and positive relationship with them while taking care of the company's installed refrigeration systems or partnering with installers on a consistent basis to ensure quality and longevity of their cabinets and displays.

Omega is proud of the past and excited for the future, ensuring that they make their mark on the refrigeration and supermarket industry in SA and abroad as a proudly South African company.

...

The Self-Service Refrigeration Display Cabinet Specialists

One of the most popular elements of refrigeration in modern supermarket stores remains the self-service refrigeration display cabinets, with the popularity of prepared foods continuing to grow in a world that desires instant gratification and immediate food readiness.

Self-service is an element of the supermarket and foodservice industry that is constantly experiencing growth, with people able to help themselves to the food or beverage options on offer.

These options are kept fresh in cabinets that are designed to keep the products cold or hot depending on specific food requirements, while also displaying the products in a pleasing and attractive manner.

An example to illustrate this would be a self-service salad bar with a glass canopy where customers walk around the sides to pick and add their salads to containers, while the variety of salads and condiments are constantly kept fresh and ready for immediate consumption.

Omega Refrigeration's dual cases and other specifically designed cabinets maximise sales returns on served and self-served products.

Omega provides a variety of options that cater for the self-service commercial refrigeration market, which includes examples such as salad bars with various options, pie warmers, dual cases, upright and deli cabinets, as well as other bespoke refrigerated cabinets based on the installer or customer's design requirements.

Some of the features and benefits of self-service refrigeration display cabinets include the following:

 Remote or Self-Contained (Fluid cooled)

 Plug & Play (repair and maintenance components can be changed quickly)

 A patented high capacity evaporator which operates at a high suction pressure, resulting in smaller compressor size

 No internal floor board required

 Electronic valves fitted where necessary

 Electrical board pull out tray which can be built to suit specifications of contractors

 Ozone friendly

 Stainless steel components

 Low energy fans as standard

 LED lights available

...

Omega Refrigeration - A Proud SPAR Group Supplier

Omega Refrigeration is a proud national supplier to the SPAR Group, a supermarket chain that has a footprint across the globe, and is a major player in South Africa.

Omega's standing as a top commercial refrigeration supplier led to the company being officially listed as a national supplier to the SPAR Group, meaning that the refrigeration specialists are amongst an elite group of companies trusted to supply and service SPAR stores throughout South Africa.

Omega Refrigeration is an established company specialising in the commercial refrigeration needs of the supermarket and foodservice industries, with a combination of expertise in cabinet manufacturing and refrigeration contracting working in favour of brands such as SPAR.

With a combined experience of over 75 years in the refrigeration industry, Omega manufactures refrigeration cabinets of superior quality for installers, contractors and store owners.

As a SPAR national supplier, Omega was selected through an extensive approval process, which included financial, quality, experience and safety considerations, as well as the ability to service the SPAR Group on a national level.

Positive past experiences with the SPAR Group also helped to ensure compliance, while a support infrastructure in the six major national regions throughout South Africa was an important consideration for Omega Refrigeration.

Omega Refrigeration exceeded all of the required criteria, and SPAR has displayed confidence in the company's ability to be a successful supplier to the group for a long time to come. Omega is proud to be able to contribute to the success of their clients or installation contractors through refrigeration expertise, and they aim to meet requirements by designing and where necessary implementing the perfect solution for their refrigeration needs.

This method of conducting business has served the company well, as has contributed greatly to their consistent growth in the market, and their ability to innovate and respond to challenges with the best solutions involving refrigerated cabinets, the systems that are present within them, or a combination of both.

...

Glass Door Refrigerated Cabinets Continue To Be Popular

The glass door refrigerated cabinet market continues to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.6 percent in recent years, and is expected to follow a similar growth pattern until 2023.

The rapid increase of supermarkets, hotels, and cafes, along with changing food consumption trends, and increasing food safety and quality regulations are amongst the major factors contributing growth to the global glass door refrigerated display cabinet market. In addition to that, supermarkets that previously did not provide customers with fresh food options are now understanding the value of such an offering, and are purchasing additional glass refrigerated cabinets for this purpose.

Other elements that are adding to the growth and adoption of glass door refrigerators amongst food and beverage, and retail industries include a growing retail network and food industry, a rise in consumer spending, and technologically advanced systems such as the Omega Inverter Series Waterloop System, which uses fluid for cooling, eliminating the need for a plant room, saving costs and energy.

The global glass door refrigerator market was valued at around $6,5 billion in 2014, and it continues to grow in popularity throughout the world, including South Africa and the African continent.

Such display cabinets with glass doors also form an important element of a relatively new trend that continues to do well, with supermarket restaurants popping up as an interesting new way that people are able to shop for fresh food or sit and have a meal while getting their other groceries.

Supermarket restaurants are stores which allocate space inside their premises for restaurants and enhanced freshly prepared food which is on display. These stores, known by some as groceraunts (grocery store restaurants) are now in direct competition with traditional restaurants.

When supermarkets display freshly made food in glass refrigerated display cabinets, they give the perception of freshness due to the fact that the ingredients to create the foods on show are in the same store and can easily be accessed.

The popularity of such display cabinets in the supermarket setting is due to the fact that the produce is kept at the necessary cold temperatures or even frozen while the store is able to keep the products on display for customers to easily view through the glass. From a freshly prepared point of view they serve both purposes, and customers can easily see and grab the food they wish to consume by simply opening the glass door.

Omega Refrigeration is specialised in the design and manufacturing of a full range of refrigerated display cabinets for various segments of the foodservice and supermarket industries, with a huge variety ranging from jumbo and wide islands to upright cabinets and upright glass door cabinets, as well as hot food options.

The company offers the latest trends in supermarket display cabinets, and glass door refrigerated cabinets are often requested due to their popularity and functionality in stores.

Omega has been at the forefront of refrigeration technology and cabinet manufacturing since its inception, and continues to focus energy on leading the industry in terms of expertise and innovation.

...

Omega Inverter Series – In A Class Of Its Own

Omega Refrigeration continues to be a market-leading influence on the refrigeration industry, and one of the ways in which it does this is by developing cabinets with state-of-the-art technology that ticks all of the boxes.

The Omega Inverter Series is an example of this, improving upon the tech in self-contained cabinets to produce something that was unheard of before it Omega unveiled its creation.

Eight years ago, Omega Refrigeration took what was already an innovative product and made it even better. The company removed the heat produced by self-contained cabinets via a water jacket on the condenser which pipes it out of the store through plastic hoses and a closed-loop cooling unit.

The experience of the Omega management with regards to refrigeration contracting to supermarkets and cabinet design and building was used to enable the addition of other improvements which have gone on to produce massive cost and energy savings.

The self-contained cabinets were previously problematic in warmer climates, with heat pumped into the stores and forcing air conditioning systems to work overtime to compensate. Omega Refrigeration's innovative system revolutionised this, and allowed for even more cost saving in warmer parts of the world, such as Africa and parts of Asia.

With all of these improvements forming part of the Omega innovation, the company launched the first closed water-loop self-contained cabinets on the African market. This technology therefore offers supermarkets or stores of any size with a viable option to move forward with sleek and energy-efficient cabinets in store.

Features of the Omega Inverter Series (OIS), as the Omega Refrigeration water-loop self-contained system is known, includes the following:

This is one of the many professional services that are offered to clients through Omega's experienced team of refrigeration consultants and engineers, through the process of lending expertise to businesses in order to assist with the store design, implementation and project management needs of clients.

This involves an equipment audit of both display cabinets and refrigeration systems, with an equipment audit report detailing the efficiencies of the equipment in line with the value chain of Omega Refrigeration.

The consultation also includes a plan proposing the cabinet and refrigeration solution that best suits the client's requirements, which will be a bespoke plan depending on a variety of factors that are different with each and every project undertaken.

The first step toward installing an optimally functioning refrigeration setup in any supermarket, warehouse or store is to understand the cooling requirements of the client. It is essential to engineer refrigeration for optimal power usage, energy efficiency and minimum downtime.

Omega Refrigeration works with the client from the outset to ensure that every aspect of a client's refrigeration installation is carefully planned, calculated and budgeted for.

With over 75 years of combined experience to count on, Omega is the ideal partner to consult regarding refrigeration requirements, and they can be contacted via a form on their website which will allow them to confirm basic store details before contacting the client regarding further requirements.

...

Global Commercial Refrigeration Market Worth $52.52 Billion By 2024

The global commercial refrigeration equipment market is expected to be worth around $52.52 billion by the year 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research Inc.

The growing number of hypermarkets and supermarkets in developing regions has increased the demand for energy efficient equipment in the recent years, and companies such as Omega Refrigeration are working hard to satisfy demand for quality commercial refrigeration that is energy-efficient.

The consistent industrialisation and modernisation present in food retail throughout the world, and especially within developing countries such as South Africa, China and India will assist the global commercial refrigeration equipment industry to continue expanding in value.

Changes in refrigerant and efficiency regulations are expected to have positive effects with regards to sales of commercial refrigeration equipment in most global markets. This is especially likely in most of the developed world, such as Western Europe and the US, as numerous refrigerants are phased out and commercial settings are focused on a reduction in power usage, forcing commercial refrigeration equipment to be replaced in order to ensure compliance.

It is predicted that reach-in and walk-in refrigerators and freezers will experience high demand during the forecast period. High demand for commercial refrigeration parts will produce further gains for the industry.

Developed markets will require retrofitting of current equipment to ensure energy efficiency, while developing countries will experience growth through the maintenance of existing refrigeration.

The report suggests that China will continue to be the world's fastest growing commercial refrigeration equipment market, as its food and beverage industry continues to evolve and develop.

India is amongst the developing countries which are making cold chain development a priority by constructing warehouses and other facilities for freezing or chilling food awaiting transport, to deal with the demand for fresh food products and a rising interest in imported foods and modern processed foods.

This ensures that the coming growth will be catered to by an experienced company with the expertise to provide commercial refrigeration equipment on a grand scale.

...

10 Reasons Why Omega Are Market Leaders

Omega Refrigeration is among the market leaders within commercial refrigeration, making use of the latest technology to create the most effective and efficient systems and cabinets in the world.

There are many reasons why Omega Refrigeration remains one of the top names in refrigeration, but here are 10 of the best...

Refrigeration Specialists: Omega Refrigeration counts on a great deal of experience in the industry and hard-earned expertise to ensure that they are the refrigeration specialists capable of handling any requirements and dealing with any challenges in order to provide the best solutions.

Ozone-Friendly Refrigerant: Omega uses only ozone-friendly refrigerant within the cabinets they supply, ensuring that a supermarket's refrigeration does not negatively affect the environment, while less refrigerant is used due to more efficient cabinets and systems.

Energy Saving Technology: One of Omega's core focuses has always been to save energy by producing systems and cabinets that would be environmentally friendly, and this thinking-process is present throughout the company, allowing for energy saving technology to be successfully implemented in the products Omega makes available to clients.

Technical Support: Omega understand this industry like no other company, and they continue to provide the best technical support through a team of highly qualified and friendly technicians who are dedicated to extending their expert assistance to clients.

Measurable Savings: In business the bottom line is what matters, and Omega Refrigeration understands that, which is why all of their efforts are geared to saving their customers money and time, which both of these important aspects providing measurable savings for supermarkets.

Great Quality: It goes without saying that Omega Refrigeration's efforts in research and development, coupled with advanced expertise and extensive experience has made for the highest quality systems and refrigerated cabinets.

Rapid Installation: Installation of systems and cabinets through Omega remains the most efficient in the business, allowing for rapid installation that does not disrupt business flow and allows the supermarket to continue trading without issues. While other installers take months, Omega Refrigeration can install within weeks while the supermarket remains in business.

Extended Shelf-Life: By keeping perishable goods at a consistent temperature throughout the day, regardless of outside temperature influences, Omega cabinets help to extend the shelf-life of the products being refrigerated, ensuring that food and other perishables remain fresh for longer.

System Monitoring: With Omega Eco the company delivers value for refrigerated systems by ensuring that problems are diagnosed accurately and quickly so that Omega can fix the issue and allow the system to continue running optimally. This is done by constantly monitoring the system for any temperature anomalies, so that Omega can immediately see if anything needs addressing and dispatch a service team accordingly.

Affordable Solution: Considering the incredible products and the sterling service that Omega offers, clients would be forgiven for believing that dealing with this highly-rated company would cost an arm and a leg, but instead, the opposite is true, as Omega is dedicated to offering affordable solutions to both contractors and retailers alike.

...

Why Supermarkets Should Choose OmegaRefrigeration

Omega Refrigeration is a company of high regard, boasting numerous advantages for both contractors and retailers thanks to a raft of benefits and special features which clients can enjoy.

The experience of this technologically advanced and highly capable refrigeration company has led to the cultivation of a reputation for cabinets of distinction.

As the specialists in hot and cold food display cabinets, Omega Refrigeration offers the following excellent features:

Robust cabinet design for African conditions: The Omega cabinets are truly made to last, with the toughest materials used and structural integrity built to thrive in the most demanding of African conditions.

Most efficient evaporative coil design and air management system: The coil design and air management system that Omega uses is simply the best, with the evaporator fins delivering 10% greater energy efficiency, while the evaporator coil is 'one size fits all', allowing for compatibility in every cabinet at any time. Each Omega Refrigeration cabinet is fitted with universal multi-temp coils, ensuring efficiency that is simply standard with the widest range of Omega cabinets.

Equipped with the latest global technology and design trends: Cutting edge technology is what makes Omega cabinets the best, and each cabinet benefits from the latest tech available within the industry, thanks to a great deal of investment in research and development, and success in implementing that research into practice.

Customised to fit any contractor or retailer requirements: Omega Refrigeration is a great partner. This fact is perfectly illustrated in the flexibility and agility with which the company embraces the market, conforming cabinets to the needs of contractors and supermarkets to make sure they achieve success alongside Omega.

Lower operating costs: This one is always a winner with the supermarkets, and it should be, because saving money while operating at peak is something to be celebrated and to strive for. Omega cabinets save money through efficiencies across the board.

Compatibility of the highest order: Omega Refrigeration's world-class cabinets are compatible with a full range of refrigeration technologies, including the following:

- Remote multiplex

- Remote simplex

- CO2 trans and sub-critical

- Self-contained closed circuit water-loop

- Self-contained aircooled

- Self-contained hydro-carbon

...

Energy Efficient Cabinets From Omega

Omega Refrigeration has produced a cabinet design that further improves the provision of cabinets available to South African and African customers, ensuring that it is the most energy efficient cabinet on the market.

The efficiency of the cabinet is directly proportional to the amount of energy required in a store, and therefore the amount of energy and money saved in a supermarket.

Simply put, the more efficient the cabinet, the less refrigeration is required from the refrigeration plant, and that translates to all kinds of savings for the store owner and manager.

Omega's are the most energy efficient cabinets one can buy, at only 4.88 Kw @ -5°C suction per 12' Upright Lofty, versus others at 6kw or more. In comparison, the specifications for most other cabinets will require far more electricity consumption, because they require a larger amount of refrigeration output in order to reach the desired temperature.

In certain cases cabinets could require up to 6.5 kw at -7 suction temperature. When considering some of the larger display cabinets in the Omega range, the Omega upright requires 1.89Kw input and only requires 4.66Kw of refrigeration capacity for a lofty.

This saving of power is available across the range of cabinets produced by Omega for the supermarket industry. Omega Manufacturing sets out to design and build the most energy efficient, robust, good-looking food display cabinets available anywhere.

Low operating and maintenance cost is built into the design using the best specialised components available on the world market.

At only 4.88 Kw @ -5°C suction per 12' Upright Lofty, Omega Refrigeration have raised the bar for cabinet energy efficiency to a whole new level. Tried and tested in six African countries, Omega cabinets are now available in two full ranges.

They are the competitively priced Classic range and the Superior range, with its high stainless steel content for extra robust construction and long life. Both offer the same high degree of efficiency.

For quotes, case studies, references and more detailed information, the below contact details may be used:

Mike Breckle 083 290 2565

Daine Groenewald 072 113 4695

Sales Department - Meyersdal 011 867 1009/1058/1094

Email: sales@omegaref.co.za

www.omegaref.co.za

...

Omega Is The Cabinet Supplier Of Choice For Contractors

Omega Refrigeration values professional refrigeration technicians and contractors for the expertise and experience that they bring to the industry.

The massive shortage of skills and understanding in commercial refrigeration contracting at the moment is cause for concern, but even more so it is an opportunity to value the experts that remain within this field.

Contractors will find that Omega remains committed to working hand in hand with them, because of a shared respect that exists between these two like-minded parties within refrigeration.

The company continues to value contractors for the service they offer, but all too often the retailers fail to fully understand the value of a great refrigeration technician.

For this reason Omega understands how challenging it can be for contractors to offer premium products that also offer a simple remote installation solution, but the company is dedicated to supporting the contractors in their work by producing world-class remote cabinets specifically these contractors to install.

Omega Refrigeration offers the following benefits to contractors throughout South Africa:

Technically innovative cabinet features that will delight retail clients

The smart choice is for contractors to partner with Omega Refrigeration to ensure success in their chosen industry, and enjoy the support of a highly-respected and well-resourced company.

Omega welcomes the opportunity to work with contractors in mutually beneficial partnerships, which is why they have created the Omega Contractor Accreditation, allowing refrigeration technicians and contractors the opportunity to work in partnership with Omega.

Omega works with retailers and their appointed contractors, saving the retailer and installer money in maintenance and running costs while providing a world-class product.

For contractors wishing to contact Omega Refrigeration directly, the following contact details can be used:

Factory Details:

Tel: 011 493 8487

Email: cabinets@omegaref.com

Address: 18 Prop Street, Selby, Johannesburg

www.omegaref.com

...

Proposed Carbon Tax To Be Considered In Parliament

The 2017 Budget Speech delivered by former South African finance minister Pravin Gordhan on 22 February 2017 saw the proposed carbon tax receive some attention, with the minister confirming that the proposed carbon tax and its date of implementation will be considered further in parliament this year.

The 2017 Budget Review, which is a document that supplements the 2017 Budget Speech, states that a revised Carbon Tax Bill will be published for public consultation and tabled in Parliament by mid-2017 and that the latest developments include the following:

• During the first phase of the tax (until 2020), there will be no impact on the price of electricity; and

• A revised regulation for the carbon offset allowance, enabling firms to reduce their carbon tax liability, will be published by mid-2017.

National Treasury published the Draft Carbon Tax Bill for comment in November 2015 with the intention that carbon taxes would be implemented in a phased manner with effect from the beginning of 2017.

The purpose of the 2015 Draft Carbon Tax Bill is to address impacts of climate change and to facilitate a viable and fair transition to a low-carbon economy for South Africa and therefore combat Green House Gas ("GHG") emissions.

Recognising the importance of reducing carbon emissions while appreciating the benefits of a low carbon economy, the South African government has committed to ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 34% by 2020 and 42% by 2025 against a business-as-usual curve.

One of the ways that this can begin to be achieved is through the implementation of a carbon tax, which will be administered by the South African Revenue Service (SARS). While the road and air travel industries are major causes of carbon emissions, refrigeration and air conditioning are also substantial contributors of greenhouse gas emissions.

Most supermarkets and food retail stores make use of refrigeration that almost inevitably leaks some of the refrigerant used. That leakage has a significant environmental impact, because many refrigerants still contain harmful greenhouse gases.

Omega Refrigeration is aware of the need to put the focus on operations within refrigeration that are environmentally friendly, in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint in the stores that use the Omega Refrigeration cabinets and systems.

With carbon tax laws set to be discussed in South Africa this year, the more energy efficient and less refrigerant-dependant supermarkets become in terms of their refrigeration, the better it is from many perspectives, which is why an association with Omega Refrigeration is beneficial for these retailers.

Omega's self-contained waterloop refrigeration system installed in refrigeration cabinets allows for the reduction of operating costs through better energy efficiency than conventional systems.

At the same time this process reduces carbon emissions, as less refrigerant is needed and there is a much lower rate of leakages - This is due to the fact that Omega factory-tests all units.

...

Omega Minimises Store Downtime

There is nothing worse for a store owner than having to close up shop while renovations, maintenance or improvements are being undertaken on their stores.

Supermarkets are constantly investing money in keeping their refrigeration equipment and systems up to date with the latest technologies for the benefit of their consumers, but they often need to accept the fact that they will not be able to trade while certain refrigeration upgrades take place.

With Omega Refrigeration this is not the case, as the innovative company offers the quickest turnaround time in the industry, ensuring that stores do not need to close shop for months in order to facilitate a modern upgrade of their equipment or systems.

Omega implements speedily compared to industry standards, allowing the supermarket's refrigeration to be set up in a matter of one or two weeks, depending on the size of the store in question, compared with the one or two months that other companies would require.

This obviously compares very favourably, as it would translate into a great deal of time and money saved by the supermarket.

In fact, Omega Refrigeration goes above and beyond to support the goals of the business while ensuring that their systems and equipment are efficiently upgraded or maintained as required. Where possible, Omega aims to implement the refrigeration required without disturbing the supermarket's business whatsoever.

Omega's system implementation is not invasive, and a great deal of effort is made to allow the store to conduct business while the refrigeration system is being installed professionally, so that consumers are not affected and business can continue as optimally as possible despite the upgrade going on in the background.

In addition to the efficient refrigeration installation, once it is installed, the company offers state of the art system monitoring through a dashboard that remotely monitors the refrigeration systems to ensure optimal performance and detect issues automatically, allowing it to be fixed before a problem is even noticed.

Omega Refrigeration also consistently maintains and services these systems once they are in place, to ensure that they run well and are promptly serviced when issues arise.n the industry, ensuring that stores do not need to close for months to facilitate a modern upgrade.

...

Expert Refrigeration Engineering Consultation From Omega

In addition to the supply and installation of refrigeration systems and equipment such as display cabinets, Omega Refrigeration offers expert refrigeration engineering consultation for clients in the foodservice and supermarket industry.

Omega is a full-solution company with vast experience in refrigeration, and one of the many professional services that are offered to clients through Omega's experienced team of refrigeration consultants and engineers is refrigeration consultation.

The refrigeration consultation process sees Omega lending their dedicated expertise to businesses in order to assist with their store design, implementation and project management needs, in order to improve efficiencies and enable such stores to operate at optimal levels on various fronts.

This involves an equipment audit of both display cabinets and refrigeration systems, with an equipment audit report detailing the efficiencies of the equipment in line with the value chain of Omega Refrigeration.

The consultation also includes a plan proposing the display cabinet and refrigeration system solution that best suits the client's requirements, based on their specifications, unique situation and the consideration of all important factors influencing the client and their store.

With over 75 years of combined experience to count on within the management of the company, not to mention the professional and dedicated staff, Omega Refrigeration is the ideal partner to consult regarding refrigeration requirements, ensuring that clients get an honest and extremely useful assessment of their refrigeration situation, as well as a clear way forward towards a more efficient and successful refrigeration outcome.

...

Global Refrigerants Market To Reach $18.5 Billion In Five Years

The global refrigerant market was valued at $9.5 billion in 2015, and is projected to reach $18.5 billion by 2022, which shows the incredible growth that is inherent in this particular industry.

The projected growth means that a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9 percent will be experienced from 2016 to 2022, according to a new report published by Allied Market Research.

Refrigerant consumption will grow due to the increasing production of refrigerator and cooling products/equipment, the economic growth of developing nations, the increasing standard of living throughout the world, and rising global temperatures.

The market is very mature with high degree of competition, and because of this the pressure is on for companies to come up with new and more environment friendly products. This pressure is positive for the industry and end clients, and is driving the increase in improved environmental friendly products.

An example of this is present in domestic refrigerators, where hydrocarbon refrigerants (R600A) are used as an alternative to HFC. The increase in price of raw materials and development of non-hazardous low GWP refrigerants has presented a challenge to manufacturers.

The industry has switched over to more ozone-friendly refrigerants known as natural refrigerants, because these natural refrigerants have a low global warming impact, which means that they will experience tremendous growth in the near future.

The demand for HCFC was high before 2009 but the Montreal Protocol, which demands phase out of HCFC, has significantly reduced its growth prospects. This is driving the HFC market as a substitute to HCFC.

HFCs are now beginning to be strictly regulated, especially in Western Europe, leading to preferences for natural refrigerants such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, propane and iso-butane.

Omega Refrigeration is a company with a special focus on environmentally friendly refrigeration, and refrigerants form an important part of this. The company uses only ozone-friendly refrigerants, and very efficient and environmentally friendly refrigeration systems, ensuring that refrigeration leakage is reduced from an industry average of 10-15% to only 1-2%.

Omega has been at the forefront of refrigeration technology and cabinet manufacturing since its inception, and continues to focus energy on leading the industry in terms of expertise and innovation.

...

Frequently Asked Contractor Questions Answered

Omega Refrigeration is dedicated to the success and satisfaction of each client, partner, contractor and end user that is involved in the company's products and services, with a reputation for sustained success working alongside independent contractors.

Omega is a company that aims to work in partnership with independent contractors wherever possible, as the industry-leading refrigeration experts appreciate and value the important contribution that contractors make to the refrigeration industry.

Omega welcomes the opportunity to work with contractors in mutually beneficial partnerships, which is why they have created the Omega Contractor Accreditation, allowing refrigeration technicians and contractors the opportunity to work in partnership with Omega on various projects.

The company works with retailers and their appointed contractors, saving the retailer and installer money in maintenance and running costs while adding their expertise to each project that is undertaken alongside the Omega approved contractor.

With that in mind, here are a few of the frequently asked questions from contractors, and the company's honest answers:

Q - How does someone become an Accredited Omega Contractor?

A – The process is simple. First the contractor will need to complete a contractor's agreement with Omega. Training can then be completed at the Omega head office in Selby, Johannesburg. Thereafter the final accreditation is received, and work can then begin with official Omega Contractor Accreditation.

Q - Must the contractor buy the self-contained system?

A - The contractor can purchase Omega remote cabinets and pair it with any refrigeration system that their client requires, but they are not required to purchase the system from Omega.

Q - What's in it for me when I become an Omega Accredited Installer?

A - Trade discounts are available for contractors, while they also benefit from training and access to comprehensive maintenance contracts and a spares support system.

Q - Where are the Omega refrigerated cabinets produced?

A - The Omega Refrigeration systems are proudly and professionally produced in South Africa, at Omega's factory located in Selby, Johannesburg, which employs over 100 people in various parts of the business.

Q - What are the benefits of Omega's refrigerated cabinets for retailers and installation contractors?

A - Omega refrigerated cabinets provide a list of benefits for retailers and installation contractors, which are explained in more detail at this link.

Q - What are the benefits of Omega's refrigerated systems for Supermarkets and other Stores?

A - Omega refrigerated systems provide a list of benefits for Supermarkets and other Stores, which are explained in more detail here.

...

Omega - Supplying Refrigeration Throughout Africa

Omega Refrigeration have built a track record of excellence across Africa thanks to their efforts to provide for the refrigeration requirements of clients in the supermarket and foodservice industry on the continent.

From Congo to South Africa, the refrigeration experts have provided cabinet and system excellence to numerous supermarket chains including the likes of Spar and OBC Chicken and Meat in South Africa, and Hyper Psaro in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Omega Refrigeration's hard work in the industry was rewarded with the recognition of being considered a preferred supplier of refrigeration equipment and systems for the SPAR Group supermarket chain.

Omega's approval led to the company being officially listed as a national supplier to the SPAR Group, meaning that the refrigeration specialists are amongst an elite group of companies trusted to supply and service SPAR stores throughout South Africa.

These services and products allow Omega to stand out as a proudly South African company catering for clients based throughout Africa. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, Omega Refrigeration has been an important supplier to Hyper Psaro Lubumbashi.

The brand's five supermarkets in Lubumbashi cover a total surface of approximately 7,500m2 and provide consumers with top-of-the-range local and imported products that fulfil every domestic need.

The stores sell more than 20,000 products imported from the EU, South Africa, other African countries, the United States, Latin America and Asia, and many of these products require state-of-the-art refrigeration, which has been provided by Omega.

Omega is proud to be able to contribute to the success of clients and installation contractors through dedicated refrigeration expertise, and they aim to meet requirements by designing and where necessary implementing the perfect solution for their refrigeration needs.

This method of conducting business has served the company well, as it has contributed greatly to Omega's consistent growth in the market, and their ability to innovate and respond to challenges with the best solutions involving refrigerated cabinets, the systems that are present within them, or a combination of both for clients in Africa and beyond.

...

Growth Expected In Glass Door Refrigerated Cabinet Market

The glass door refrigerated cabinet market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 8.6 percent in the coming years to 2023.

The major factors affecting growth in the global glass door refrigerated display cabinet market remain the rapid increase of supermarkets, hotels, and cafes, along with changing food consumption trends, and increasing food safety and quality regulations.

Other elements that are adding to the growth and adoption of glass door refrigerators amongst food and beverage, and retail industries include a growing retail network and food industry, a rise in consumer spending, and technologically advanced systems such as the Omega Inverter Series Waterloop System, which uses fluid for cooling, eliminating the need for a plant room, thereby saving costs and energy.

Small glass door refrigerators with critical-temperature-control features are also becoming increasingly popular for use in other industries, such as biomedical, for their functionality and the control offered to users.

Valued at around $6,5 billion globally in 2014, the glass door refrigerator market is boosted by the fresh food or food on the go phenomenon, which sees consumers at supermarkets providing fresh food and ready meal options for grocery shoppers, allowing the consumers a view of what products are available through the glass doors, thereby enticing them to purchase.

When supermarkets display freshly made food in glass refrigerated display cabinets, they give the perception of freshness due to the fact that the ingredients to create the foods on show are in the same store and can be easily accessed and purchased.

The popularity of such display cabinets in the supermarket setting is understandable; and customers can easily view and take the food they wish to consume by simply opening the glass door.

Omega Refrigeration is specialised in the design and manufacturing of a full range of refrigerated display cabinets for various segments of the foodservice and supermarket industries, with a huge variety ranging from jumbo and wide islands to upright cabinets and upright glass door cabinets, not forgetting the hot food display options.

Omega has been at the forefront of refrigeration technology and cabinet manufacturing since its inception, and continues to focus energy on leading the industry in terms of expertise and innovation.

...

The Omega Service Department – A Cut Above

Too many companies in the refrigeration industry are focused on one particular process in the business cycle; without any real thought or effort going into other parts of the industry or other needs that clients require to be met.

In other words, some companies may sell display cabinets, but they have no interest in installing them, or some may provide systems, but once something goes wrong, they are not interested in taking responsibility and maintaining the quality of their systems.

At Omega Refrigeration, maintenance and service is very important, which is why the company not only supplies and installs refrigeration display cabinets, but also endeavours to maintain those elements in the long-term.

Part of the Omega promise is to focus on maintaining systems to a world-class level, which is why their dedicated service department is on hand to ensure that all issues are professionally and efficiently dealt with before the client even knows that there was a problem.

Thanks to the Omega Eco Monitoring system, problems are diagnosed accurately and quickly so that Omega staff can fix the issue and allow the store to continue running optimally.

This is done by constantly monitoring the system for any temperature anomalies, so that Omega can immediately see if anything needs addressing and they then dispatch a service team to deal with the issue effectively.

The company's well-trained service department representatives provide clients with peace of mind, as they are not left to deal with issues on their own, and they are able to rely on a comprehensive service from Omega.

This ensures that their system is maintained exceptionally well 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. If you need assistance with your Omega installed cabinets contact our Service Department to receive the best possible customer service and put our promise to the test.

...

Commercial Refrigeration Market Growth Bodes Well For SA

The continued growth in the commercial refrigeration equipment market globally bodes well for South Africa as a thriving part of that total market with great prospects for continued expansion.

According to a research report by Global Market Insights, Inc, the world's commercial refrigeration equipment market is set to experience growth that will see it valued at around $47 Billion by 2023.

Industrialisation and an increase in disposable income have affected the way in which food is consumed, leading to the rapid growth of the frozen foods industry. These factors are contributing to the expansion of the commercial refrigeration equipment market size in the coming six years.

The report called: "Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Market Size By Application", suggests that the industry will grow substantially due to the great capital investment that he market will continue to experience. This is due mainly to the emerging food services that require commercial refrigeration for transportation, distribution and production.

Interestingly, another contributing factor is the growing international trade of frozen foods between countries due to the aforementioned changing food consumption trends, and this leads to a noticeable rise in the demand for commercial refrigeration equipment.

As South Africa is one of the markets considered in this research report, the country will also benefit from this growth, and industry leading companies such as Omega Refrigeration will be on hand to supply supermarkets and other stores with the commercial refrigeration equipment needed to keep up with the expected growth.

This ensures that the expected growth in the market will be handled by an experienced company with the expertise to provide commercial refrigeration equipment on a large scale to the entire African market and beyond.

In addition to the provision of a wide-range of display cabinets, Omega is dedicated to positively affecting the independent contractors and supermarkets that they work with by providing other related services and developing systems and cabinets that are extremely energy efficient, benefiting the environment and leading to cost-savings.

Brands are constantly looking for ways in which they can engage with potential consumers, whether through online, social media or in store - and innovations continue to assist brands in connecting with their markets.

When it comes to food and beverage brands that require refrigeration and are looking to connect with their target market, Lucozade South Africa has found an innovative way to engage with consumers directly at the point of purchase.

The energy drink company recently launched a new product called Lucozade ZERO, and in doing so they partnered with Pulse Media Technologies to implement the first formal African launch of the innovative and state-of-the-art technological digital refrigerator.

These high-tech refrigerated cabinets were installed in a number of retail outlets across South Africa, allowing consumers to interact with the brand at the shops while considering their purchasing options.

"With the launch of the new Lucozade ZERO, our first sugar-free offering, we knew we wanted to deviate from the norm by implementing innovative marketing strategies that would leave our consumers with excitement," said Qhawekazi Mdikane, the Area Marketing Manager for Lucozade SA.

"The Lucozade ZERO digital refrigeration allows us to do exactly that, while enabling us to drive our marketing messages and interact with shoppers in an exciting manner," he added.

The technology replaces the conventional glass door with a new 'intelligent' door, incorporating a transparent digital HD LCD screen into the display cabinet door. While the display cabinet still functions as a normal display case in which refrigerated goods can be easily viewed by consumers, the door of the refrigerator can also display pictures, videos, advertisements, logos, current offers or competitions through the latest touch interaction technology.

LED Lighting allows the display cabinet to switch from transparent to opaque instantly, keeping the viewer continuously engaged with the brand for longer periods while enabling the conversion and influence of impulse decision behaviour at the point of purchase.

These refrigerators can be connected to the cloud in order to automatically check and download new content and updates as required, while audio elements can also be added for automated responses or sound effects, as well as other technology such as facial recognition and motion sensors, providing an engaging in-store consumer experience.

The Lucozade ZERO interactive fridges provide stores with exciting innovation, and at Omega Refrigeration we continue to be at the forefront of innovation, guaranteeing the growth and future sustainability of both our clients and our own company.

Through independent contractors or directly working with stores, we are able to implement such innovative designs into our refrigeration display cabinets on behalf of the brands that request it, as we are cabinet and refrigeration system specialists with a solid focus on bringing future trends to life today.

...

A Festive Season Message From Omega

It is that time of year once again, where we step back, review the year that has passed and look forward to the possibilities of the next year.

It has been a good year for Omega Refrigeration, and one that has allowed us to continue our hard work in expanding the company and providing quality services within the refrigeration industry. We will work for more of the same in 2017, with plans to continue expanding and offering our clients even more quality and value.

The festive season is a time for family, friends, and all the people who've had a big impact on our lives. We hope that you will be sharing the joy of the season with the people who matter the most to you, and use this time to recharge and prepare for what will be a great 2017.

The festive season is also a time to be thankful and appreciate all of the people who have made 2016 a success. We mean you!

At Omega Refrigeration we are grateful for your support this year in being a client, partner or colleague, allowing us to continue providing unmatched services and innovative products.

It is because of you, and people like you that we have managed to spread our influence globally in working with stores, the foodservice industry and independent contractors to improve the refrigeration systems and cabinets available.

With your help, we've been able to successfully continue our research and development efforts, while bringing products to market that help save money, time and the environment. We have taken great care to offer clients innovative solutions delivered through experience and genuine appreciation for the businesses we serve.

The Omega Refrigeration team thanks you for your support in 2016, and we look forward to the same support in 2017.

We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and happy 2017!

...

The Omega Refrigeration Offering

At Omega Refrigeration our values shape everything we do, and our work in helping businesses and installation contractors to achieve growth and success is what motivates us to innovate and continue the trend of excellence and quality that have become synonymous with our company.

Overall Solution – We are proud of our products and the service that we are known for in the industry, taking on the challenges that are present with confidence and experience to ensure that we have a considered solution that takes into account all elements of the refrigeration cycle from start to finish. We will consult and advise on requirements and design, implement and maintain your refrigeration system and work alongside your business to guarantee a successful outcome, while we are also adept at partnering with accredited installers to provide them with refrigerated display cabinets for their installations.

Measureable Savings – Not only do our cabinets and systems save you money versus all of the competitors, but they also lead to huge energy savings which help to ensure environmental sustainability and general cost saving. This is an increasingly important consideration given the rising cost of energy and the need for greener ways of conducting business. Our energy efficiency is a top consideration, as it leads to further benefits for our clients.

Endless Innovation – The promise we make to our customers and ourselves is that we will consistently innovate and improve our product offering to maintain the latest refrigeration technology updates, fulfilling our aim of being at the pinnacle of refrigeration excellence and leading innovation with a tireless work ethic. Our cabinets are designed with innovation and aesthetic mastery in balance, to ensure a product of incredibly high standard. Our dashboard allows us to monitor the refrigeration systems remotely, which also enables us to detect and address performance issues proactively.

Great Quality – It is our mission to constantly exceed expectations, delivering above and beyond what our competitors are capable of producing, and ensuring that our quality remains of the highest standard throughout all stages of the refrigeration consultation, implementation and maintenance process. We continue to work with our clients to ensure that ensure that efficiency and reliability is maintained as promised, while our work with installation contractors allows us to become a partner in their success too, thanks to our excellent quality display cabinets.

Ability to Implement Systems Rapidly – We not only believe in the need for quality and innovation within our industry, but also the fact that these elements of our products are rendered even more valuable if they are provided to clients with time as a consideration of utmost importance. We do not want our customers to wait, and we endeavour to work to implement as fast and efficiently as possible, while ensuring the least disturbance possible for revamps where stores are able to continue trading as we install.

...

The Evaporative Condensing Unit Market Worth $1.61 Billion by 2026

According to a new report from MarketsandMarkets, the Evaporative Condensing Unit Market worldwide is projected to reach $ 1.61 Billion by 2026, translating into a compound annual growth rate of 7.2% from 2016 to 2026.

The positive growth reflects the importance of the refrigeration and air conditioning markets globally, and the potential for sustained growth in coming years. The introduction of evaporative condensing units with advanced technologies has fostered the growth of this market, while advanced evaporative condensing units are in demand mostly due to the benefits offered in terms of adaptability, extended durability and shelf life, as well as improved performance of refrigeration systems.

The growing demand for advanced refrigeration systems is therefore expected to lead to the growth of the evaporative condensing unit market. Advances in technology, including improvements focused on condensing units have and will continue to push demand for energy efficient products across the hospitality and food service sectors. Companies such as Omega Refrigeration continue to contribute to advances in energy efficiency technologies within the refrigeration industry in South Africa and globally.

Evaporative condensing units are often used for refrigeration and air conditioning application within commercial end-use industries. The industries involved include hotels & restaurants, food processing units, and cold storages & warehouses.

This is particularly the case in large commercial industries, especially where more than 100 tons of refrigeration is required. Evaporative condensing units are used for refrigeration purposes in various industries, such as power, chemical, and commercial industries, among others.

While the demand for evaporative condensing units is growing from cold stores, warehouses, restaurants, and food processing units due to the growth of food & beverage industry in developing nations, emerging nations are showing growth in the refrigeration application segment of the evaporative condensing unit market due to an expanding food processing & storage facility market.

The evaporative condensing unit market in the Middle East and Africa is expected to grow at the highest compound annual growth rate over the next 10 years.

...

Omega Refrigeration - Cabinet Manufacturers Of High Regard

As leaders in refrigerated cabinet manufacturing, Omega Refrigeration provides excellent quality cabinet displays, in both remote and self-contained versions, to accommodate any type of system requirements for corporates, installation contractors and independent retailers.

The company's extensive selection of refrigerated displays incorporate the latest developments in cabinet manufacturing, while they are also capable of designing bespoke cabinets based on custom requirements for clients or accredited installers in the foodservice and supermarket industries.

In fact, working in partnership with independent contractors is a priority wherever possible, as the industry-leading refrigeration experts appreciate and value the important contribution that contractors make to the refrigeration industry.

Omega welcomes the opportunity to work with contractors in mutually beneficial partnerships, which is why they allow refrigeration technicians and contractors the opportunity to work in partnership with Omega on various projects, including the provision of world-class refrigeration display cabinets for contractor projects.

Omega Refrigeration is specialised in the design and manufacturing of a full range of refrigerated display cabinets for various segments of the foodservice and supermarket industries, with a huge variety ranging from jumbo and wide islands to upright cabinets and upright glass door cabinets, as well as hot food options that are becoming increasingly popular in stores.

The wide selection of refrigerated cabinets are the product of over 75 years combined experience in the refrigeration industry, incorporating the latest elements of cabinet manufacturing to allow installers, contractors and store owners to benefit from a product range that is state-of-the-art.

The company offers a wide range of cabinets that are available as self-contained or remote, and these are installed by their approved installers or contractors.

Along with partnership opportunities that involve the supply of refrigeration cabinets to installers and contractors, the company is also capable of designing bespoke cabinets based on custom requirements provided by clients.

The cabinets are designed with the rising cost of copper, gas, cables and labour in mind, diminishing the need for these elements through intelligent and state-of-the-art manufacturing, ensuring that the cost-saving is passed on to the client.

...

Omega Refrigeration Website Now Available In French And Portuguese

In order to cater for the vast amount of clients requiring products and services from Omega Refrigeration, the company's website is now available in French and Portuguese, in addition to the original English.

Visitors to the site can click on the flag icon at the top of the site to change the language to the desired choice, with a click on the French or Portuguese flag converting all of the content on the site to those languages. Clicking on the South African flag brings the website user back to English.

The positive development means that many website users throughout Africa can access the website in the language of their choice, as French and Portuguese is widely spoken throughout vast parts of Africa, including West and Central African regions.

Countries such as Cape Verde, Angola and Mozambique are Portuguese speaking, while other nations including Congo, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo are Francophone countries that use French as a primary language. The two languages are also spoken throughout the world, from Europe to South and North America.

This emphasis on catering to the languages spoken and read throughout the world, in addition to English, comes at a time when Omega Refrigeration is primed for continued growth in a market that is consistently showing growth due to rapid industrialisation and technological advancements in refrigeration.

Omega continues to embrace technology by using online means of communication to reach clients and potential partners in an increasingly digital world that speaks many languages.

Omega Refrigeration is an established company specialising in the commercial refrigeration needs of the supermarket and foodservice industries.

Using a combination of expertise in cabinet manufacturing and refrigeration contracting, and backed up by many years of experience, Omega provides an extensive range of cabinets that can be used within various segments of the market, as well as refrigeration systems and other industry related services for clients.

...

Agreement On Global Adoption Of Safer Refrigeration Gases

The world recently agreed to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), gases harmful to the environment, which are used heavily in the manufacturing of refrigerators and air conditioning units.

The agreement by nearly 200 members of the Montreal Protocol will be legally binding, resulting in trade sanctions for countries that fail to live up to their obligations. As a result of the agreement, consumers will likely pay more for equipment that make use of HFCs, as manufacturers will have to redesign their manufacturing plant to accommodate the use of alternatives.

The agreement was reached in Kigali, with the 200 countries present agreeing to phase out consumption of HFCs by 2019 for developed countries, while developing countries such as South Africa will begin the same process in 2024.

The unprecedented agreement will lead to the avoidance of emissions amounting to more than 70 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent HFC, which will allow the world to prevent a 0.5 degree Celsius increase in global warming by the end of the century.

Top global companies have spent billions of dollars researching alternatives after anticipating the phasing out of the use of HFCs. All developing countries will be supported by the protocol's Multilateral Fund, which rich countries are expected to replenish next year as they are mandated to do every three years.

Africa is a large commercial market for refrigeration and air conditioning units, and South African refrigeration display cabinet and systems market leader Omega Refrigeration has been at the forefront of developing systems and equipment that is kinder to the environment, which leads to energy efficiency gains.

Omega provides innovative solutions that take commercial refrigeration to the next level, helping stores to achieve a return on their investment through energy efficiency and the implementation of low maintenance systems, allowing these stores to lessen their environmental impact.

Innovation is the cornerstone of Omega Refrigeration's push for environmental sustainability, cost saving and energy efficiency gains, with the latest technologies used to ensure that they produce and implement state of the art systems to provide clients with the best possible solutions for their refrigeration requirements.

...

Omega Refrigeration Pleased To Work With Independent Contractors

Omega Refrigeration is a company that aims to work in partnership with independent contractors wherever possible, as the industry-leading refrigeration experts appreciate and value the important contribution that contractors make to the refrigeration industry.

Omega welcomes the opportunity to work with contractors in mutually beneficial partnerships, which is why they have created the Omega Contractor Accreditation, allowing refrigeration technicians and contractors the opportunity to work in partnership with Omega on various projects.

The company works with retailers and their appointed contractors, saving the retailer and installer money in maintenance and running costs while adding their expertise to each project that is undertaken alongside the Omega approved contractor.

The process of becoming an Accredited Omega Contractor is simple, as candidates can access the Omega Refrigeration website to complete the official contractor's agreement, before submitting it to the company.

The contractor will then be contacted by Omega for training that will take place at the Omega head office in Selby, Johannesburg. Upon completion of the training, the contractor will receive final accreditation as an Omega approved contractor or installer, at which point the contractor is able to offer their services to stores under the Omega accredited banner.

Omega aim to develop long-lasting relationships with approved contractors, and the company commits to referring associated refrigeration products to the installer, as long as the products do not relate to Omega's core business, but is required to complete the retailer installation.

The contractor will work directly with the retailer, and will benefit directly from the work done, but Omega will partner with them to ensure the best products and systems are available to the contractor, as well as the store.

The latest report on the commercial refrigeration equipment market suggests that the global industry will reach $52.52 billion by the year 2024. This is according to a detailed analysis into the subject from Grand View Research Inc.

The growing number of hypermarkets and supermarkets in developing regions such as South Africa has been credited with the increase in demand for energy efficient equipment in the recent years.

Rapid industrialisation, rising disposable income of the growing middle class, and several other demographic factors has been the catalyst for a noticeable change in food and beverage consumption in recent years.

Rising capital investment with the growing emergence of food services in terms of transportation, distribution, and production is expected to increase the volume of shipments. The market will also continue its impressive growth due to an increase in the use of commercial refrigeration equipment in horticulture, processes, and seafood.

The rise in demand for commercial refrigeration equipment has also been positively affected by a change in food consumption trends, which led to increasing international trade of frozen food between different countries.

Advances in technology, including improvements focused on cooling technologies have and will continue to push demand for energy efficient products across the hospitality and food service sectors. Companies such as Omega Refrigeration continue to contribute to advances in energy efficiency technologies within the refrigeration industry.

One of the key elements of the research findings is the fact that the transportation refrigeration equipment component of the market accounted for 19% of the market last year, but it is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% from 2016 to 2024.

The transport segment is affected by a rise in international food trade due to the fact that consumer preferences are geared towards high nutrition and processed foods. The food service sector within the commercial refrigeration equipment market was responsible for over 32% of the revenue share in 2015, but this is expected to experience significant growth over the next eight years.

Another research company called Hexa Research, which is based in California, found that the major barriers to market entry in the commercial refrigeration equipment industry include high capital investment, stringent regulatory environment, and increasing research & development costs. If these are overcome in future years, the market will continue to grow from strength to strength.

...

Omega Refrigeration - The Energy Efficiency Specialists

One of the most energy-heavy processes in the foodservice and sales industry is supermarket and display refrigeration. These systems use a great deal of energy in order to keep food fresh while displaying it so that consumers can easily see and buy products.

Customers open the doors of these refrigerated display cabinets, consider their purchases and let cold air escape, before closing the door with or without the products they were considering.

In some cases, such as those for vegetables in supermarkets, the display cabinets do not even have doors, in order to make shopping easier for busy consumers with trolleys or baskets who wish to grab items and move on as quickly as possible. Open display cabinets therefore allow cold air to float away, rather than being trapped by a door, using more energy.

This costs the supermarkets both financially and in terms of efficiency, which is why Omega Refrigeration's efforts over many decades have been so useful in turning the tide on energy efficiency and providing stores with the most efficient cabinets and systems on the market.

These energy efficiency gains allow supermarkets and other foodservice organisations that make use of Omega's products to strike the fine balance between environmentally friendly and energy efficient systems and cabinets that save money, while keeping consumers happy and providing them with a store layout and experience that is intuitive and enjoyable.

Omega provides innovative solutions that take commercial refrigeration to the next level, helping stores to achieve a return on their investment through energy efficiency and the implementation of low maintenance systems.

The company makes use of the latest technologies to ensure that they produce and implement state of the art systems for clients or in partnership with installers.

Omega designs innovative refrigeration cabinet solutions that positively impact customers in terms of cost and energy saving, while maintaining their systems to ensure that energy efficiency is an ongoing task, not simply a once-off benefit.

This means that Omega customers enjoy lower operating costs and reduced carbon emissions through affordable technology improvements that provide short and long term benefits.

...

New Central Square Uses Environmentally-Friendly Refrigeration

The latest shopping and dining destination in Pretoria makes use of environmentally-friendly refrigeration concepts to ensure that they can provide what consumers want while protecting the environment.

The new R1.8 billion vibrant mixed-use 65,000sqm Central Square opened towards the end of September within the iconic 315,000sqm Menlyn Maine decentralised green city mega-development.

The concept behind the development was to have positive impacts on both the environment and the people who use the shopping and dining complex. Menlyn Maine is South Africa's first green, mixed-use city precinct, in partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative.

Menlyn Maine is one of 16 green cities being built in a number of countries, and the only city of its kind in Africa at the moment.

As a priority for Menlyn Maine considering their high sustainability benchmarks, all buildings in the precinct will be rated 4 Green Star SA or higher by the Green Building Council of South Africa. Central Square at Menlyn Maine has achieved a Green Star SA Custom Mixed Use rating from the GBCSA, which is a first for such an establishment in the country.

Co-owned by joint investors Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings and the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) represented by the PIC, Central Square will offer over 30,000sqm of exceptional boutique-styled mall development with over 50 retailers, restaurants, and entertainment experiences available to consumers.

The supermarket tenants at Central Square's support and believe in the development's sustainability ethos. These include large supermarket chains, Spar, Pick n Pay, and Woolworths, which each have a presence at Central Square.

SPAR at Central Square is geared towards ensuring operation with minimal impact on the environment, according to owner Peter Arsalides.

"The developers have focused on minimising the environmental impact of the centre with the latest innovations for water and energy efficiencies. This is an important undertaking and I feel it is critical for future developments to follow similar examples to preserve our environment for future generations. This was an important motivator for me, as well as the SPAR brand, in choosing to be part of this milestone development," said Arsalides.

The Central Square SPAR uses the latest imported LED lighting, while the refrigeration uses the latest world standards in refrigerants and condenser technology, cutting the store's electrical consumption by 67%. Woolworths Food at Central Square will also be environmentally aware in the store, with specific reference to their refrigeration.

Woolworths Central Square's refrigeration uses a 100% natural gas system that has zero impact on the environment. In addition, its food market has an underfloor heat reclaim system that recycles gas to keep the store warm. In addition to those energy saving aspects, the Woolworths freezer and cold room doors will save energy by using LED lighting.

Pick n Pay at Central Square is one of the brand's next generation stores, offering its exciting new format with a renewed focus on sustainability and environmental awareness.

"When it comes to sustainability, Central Square was an obvious choice for Pick n Pay," said Adrian Naude, Marketing Director of Pick n Pay. "As a leading retailer, Pick n Pay is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and encourages suppliers and customers to do so too. Its efforts are guided by a climate change and food security strategy," he added.

"We focus on improving energy-efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint, decreasing the waste we produce, recycling, and being water-wise. To minimise energy consumption, we change behaviours and use new technologies, especially in-store with refrigeration, lighting and air conditioning," concluded Naude.

...

Global Refrigerant Giants In Merger Talks

Industrial gas companies Praxair from the USA and Germany's Linde are in merger talks, according to numerous media agencies covering the potential business move.

Talks between the two refrigerant suppliers are ongoing, and if the move were to go ahead it would mean a combined market value of around $60 million. The two companies are global suppliers of refrigerants as part of their industrial gases portfolios, with one operating out of North America, while the other is European-based.

While Linde offers a wide range of refrigerants including the new HFO blends and "natural" refrigerants, Praxair has a more limited offering of HCFCs, HFCs and "natural" refrigerants, but the combination of the two firms in a merger would see a far more impressive combined offer take shape.

Linde operates refrigerant packaging facilities throughout the world with substantial bulk storage, bulk breaking and blending capabilities, while its refrigerants are sold in over 40 countries. These include nations throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the South Pacific regions.

They also operate through many well-known local brands in these countries, such as Linde, BOC (UK), AGA (Scandinavia), TEGA (Germany), SIGAS (Saudi Arabia) and PSG (South Korea). In South Africa Linde operates as African Oxygen, or AFROX.

As the leading gas suppliers in southern Africa, AFROX supplies the complete range of refrigerant gases, including: long-term HFC replacement refrigerants such as R134a, R404A, R410A and R507A.

Linde's revenue in 2015 was around $20 billion, while their potential merger partner, Praxair had sales of $11 billion during that same period. Interestingly, the deal may complete a circle, with both companies having been founded by Carl von Linde, the German scientist and refrigeration engineer.

Von Linde formed Gesellschaft für Linde's Eismaschinen AG in 1879, which would go on to become Linde, and he also founded Linde Air Products, which would become known as Praxair, in Ohio from 1907.

...

Omega Refrigeration – A Team Worthy Of Olympic Glory

With the Olympic Games recently coming into focus and generating hype the world over, we at Omega Refrigeration have been thinking about the elements that make a successful sports team or athlete, and how that applies to our business.

There are a few factors relating to a successful sports team that we continue to apply to our own Omega team, which allows us to deliver quality for clients on a consistent basis.

The Right Team

At Omega Refrigeration, we believe in hiring the best people for the job. This ensures that our clients get the best possible service, and enjoy absolute confidence in our ability to improve their stores, refrigeration systems or cabinet products. With Omega, clients are certain that they are working with the best in the business, and our track record of gold medal-worthy performances on projects says it all.

Excellence Is In The Details

All Olympic teams strive for perfection, knowing that a place on the podium is a matter of millimetres, hundredths of a second or that extra burst of speed in the dying moments. At Omega we understand this, which is why we are perfectionists with the work we do, ensuring that all elements of the work are carried out with excellence. We are focused on constant improvement and we commit ourselves to delivering each project to a high level.

Versatility Is Gold

Any sports team values the utility players who are able to deal with challenges head on and find solutions for every problem. Omega specialises in this on behalf of clients, and no problem is too big or unsolvable. Our experienced staff use their expertise to navigate through issues without letting them hold the client back, which is why we are trusted as refrigeration experts who never compromise – just like the Olympic champions. Our product range and service provision is diverse and wide-ranging, allowing us to provide refrigerated display cabinets for any purpose, while offering store design expertise and other consultation services.

Support Equals Success

Any sports personality or team worth their salt is backed by fans and other supporters who give them that extra something when they need it most. At Omega we have the backing of our incredible team of engineers, technicians, sales, admin and other staff in delivering great work throughout the year, while our numerous satisfied clients form our supporter-base who proudly tell other companies about our world-class work.

Monitoring To Improve

One of the most valuable contributions to a successful sports team is the team of experts who watch and analyse every moment of a performance to note areas of weakness and strength. Our Omega Eco Monitoring system delivers value and peace of mind for refrigerated systems by ensuring that problems are diagnosed accurately and quickly so that we can fix the issue and allow client systems to continue running optimally. This is done by constantly monitoring the system for any temperature anomalies, so that we can immediately see if anything needs addressing and dispatch a service team accordingly. This system tracks every temperature spike or power failure, therefore preventing loss of perishable food, reducing cabinet maintenance costs and enabling advanced energy and operational analytics, which often lead to further savings with regards to operating costs.

Please feel free to speak to us about our innovative refrigeration products and services designed to help you improve your store in terms of efficiency, cost-saving and many other benefits. Trust the Omega Refrigeration team to strive for excellence on your behalf.

...

Omega Refrigeration Doing Its Part To Reduce Food Waste

In today's world there is a great need to reduce food waste, as perishable goods should go to better use rather than being wasted, and they cost supermarkets and other retailers a great deal in wastage.

Omega Refrigeration is dedicated to saving the environment through the extended shelf-life inherent in the display cabinets and systems that the company provides to clients within the supermarket and foodservice industries.

According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Resources Institute (WRI) about one-third of the food produced each year is wasted. Fruits and vegetables are wasted at about 25 percent of the production level, and perishable food products are often exposed to fluctuating temperatures during the transit and handling processes, before they even reach the end destination, which adds to the waste.

The global population is anticipated to increase at a fast pace in the near future, which will in turn increase the demand for food products, and especially products that require refrigeration.

The increased requirement for food waste to be reduced is one of the key drivers contributing to the growth of the refrigerated warehouse market, as well as the commercial refrigeration market within supermarkets and other foodservice stores.

Omega Refrigeration is determined to play its part in reducing food waste, by supplying systems and display cabinets that increase shelf life, therefore leading to less waste.

Omega works to deliver on the requirements of clients to provide them with a sustainable return on their investment. This is where extended shelf life is produced through technological advancement, as constant and accurate cooling is ensured through speed regulation, thereby extending the life of refrigerated products and making sure that stock lasts longer.

The improved product shelf‐life due to accurate temperature control and hot‐gas defrost becomes an important benefit for superstores in reducing waste, as their products are able to remain on the shelves for longer periods before they are removed or discarded. In some cases food and other products need to be kept well below freezing temperatures to maintain freshness and shelf-life.

The success of stores is linked to their ability to keep stock fresh and allow customers to purchase their products before their shelf-life expires, and in the case of frozen foods the ability to maintain very low temperatures is fundamental.

Omega provides various freezer cabinet options for this purpose, such as upright glass door, deli, combi, bin and jumbo or wide freezers, with specialised stainless steel shelving and other elements available for better display of merchandise.

In the same way that cold products require a certain level of refrigeration to guarantee the freshness and shelf-life of the products, the hot foods that supermarkets or stores sell to consumers require hot cabinets that are designed to keep food warm and fresh, while displaying the products to attract the attention of customers.

Organised retail formats such supermarkets, hypermarkets, forecourt retailers, discounters, and convenience stores can therefore benefit from Omega Refrigeration cabinets and systems to ensure that they have less wastage of refrigerated products.

According to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc, the world's commercial refrigeration equipment market is set to expand, with the particular sector estimated to be worth around $47 Billion in seven years' time.

Industrialisation and an increase in disposable income have apparently made for changes with regards to how food is consumed, as it has led to the rapid growth of the frozen foods industry.

These factors are driving the expansion of the commercial refrigeration equipment market size in better part of the coming decade. The report, which is titled: "Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Market Size By Application (Food & Beverage Retail, Food & Beverage Distribution, Food & Beverage Production, Food Service)", goes on to suggest that the industry will grow in leaps and bounds due to huge capital investment that it will continue to experience.

This is due mainly to the emerging food services that require commercial refrigeration for transportation, distribution and production. Interestingly, another contributing factor is the growing international trade of frozen foods between countries due to the aforementioned changing food consumption trends, and this leads to a noticeable rise in the demand for commercial refrigeration equipment.

The global energy demand for air conditioning and refrigeration accounted for around 20% of the overall energy consumption. Technological advancement is expected to be pushed by a growing awareness concerning refrigerants that may add to global warming and negatively affect the environment.

Fuel prices are expected to continue rising, and this is anticipated to affect transportation refrigeration sector growth, but the introduction of zero-emission technology will likely mitigate the negative impact of increasing fuel prices.

This ensures that the coming growth will be catered to by an experienced company with the expertise to provide commercial refrigeration equipment on a large scale.

In addition to the provision of a wide-ranging selection of display cabinets, Omega is dedicated to positively affecting the supermarkets that they work with by developing systems and cabinets that are extremely energy efficient, benefiting the environment and leading to cost-savings.

...

Self-Contained Cabinets More Sleek And Efficient Than Remote

Remote display cabinets used to be all the rage when supermarkets experienced a growth phase and required additional refrigeration for their frozen and chilled departments.

This large-scale refrigeration was provided in the form of remote cabinets, but they were not energy efficient, certainly not compared to the modern standards available through self-contained cabinets.

The advent of highly efficient self-contained cabinets has changed the game, with this section of the display cabinet market now able to compete with the remote cabinets as far as efficiency and installation cost. In addition to those obvious advantages, the self-contained options suddenly looked far better and allowed for more space savings as they no longer needed to be bulky and unsightly.

This was done through plant and equipment miniaturisation, as well as more efficient cabinet design, which was a positive step forward in creating a sleek and modern look that suited the image most supermarkets were trying to portray. Then, about seven years ago, Omega Refrigeration took what was already an innovative product and made it even more cutting edge.

The company removed the heat produced by self-contained cabinets via a water jacket on the condenser which pipes it out of the store through plastic hoses and a closed-loop cooling unit.

The experience of the Omega management with regards to refrigeration contracting to supermarkets and cabinet design and building was used to enable the addition of other improvements which have gone on to revolutionise the commercial refrigeration industry through cost and energy savings.

The self-contained cabinets used to be problematic in hotter climates, with heat pumped into the stores and forcing air conditioning systems to work overtime to compensate. Omega Refrigeration's innovative system changed this, and allowed for even more cost saving in warmer parts of the world, such as Africa and parts of Asia.

With all of these improvements forming part of the Omega innovation, the company launched the first closed water-loop self-contained cabinets on the African market. This technology therefore offers supermarkets or stores of any size with a viable option to move forward with sleek and energy efficient cabinets in store.

Omega Refrigeration has developed excellent relationships with many clients from a variety of industries and market segments, thanks to the work completed on their supermarket or retail foodservice refrigeration.

It is inevitable that these clients have been pleased and impressed by the quality of Omega Refrigeration's work, as well as the impact that this work has had on their businesses and the bottom line associated with these businesses.

This is what Omega Refrigeration clients have said about the difference made to their businesses:

"Any retailer serious about their business should note the difference that the Omega Closed Water Loop System can make to their business – real bottom line stuff."

Chris Christodoulou – 5 Star Superspar, Secunda Superspar

"Omega has brought a dimension to refrigeration technology, cost cutting and energy saving that I have not seen in decades – real cutting edge. I am more than happy I now have more money in my pocket."

Ayis Kyriacou – Nina Park Spar, Pretoria North Spar, Hercules Spar

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Omega for all their efforts in the stores we have opened together. Omega was still a new design but we decided to give them the opportunity. We had a few teething problems with regards to the specification of the stores requirement, however, Omega has never pulled away and have always resolved any problems that arose. I am happy to recommend Omega to anyone and will be using them in future projects next year."

MJP Ferreira - Roots Buying Group

"I would like to thank you and your team for the effort and hard work carried out at 5 Star SuperSpar. Mike, you went the extra mile making sure all work ran smoothly so that we could launch our store in time."

"Thank you for the dedication to our project! The attention to detail has provided us with a world class store. The savings we have made due to installing the energy efficient system is unbelievable. We would definitely recommend the Omega System to all retailers. Looking forward to many more projects with Omega."

Thano Manitsas – 5 Star SuperSpar

"I would like to personally thank you for the time/effort and donation of equipment that was put into our staff canteen at Spar North Rand. We now have a facility that is truly "World Class"."

"Your team went out of their way to deliver a top class product and installation. Could you please extend our appreciation to all of those who were involved."

Shaun Cruickshank, Spar North Rand, Saxby SuperSpar

"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Omega Refrigeration (Pty) Ltd for a job well done. We particularly want to commend you all for the excellent service rendered during the warranty period, your professionalism and customer service is outstanding."

"Your product has tremendously reduced our electricity bills, a definite value add to our business. We will recommend your products and services to others. Good luck and all the best for the future."

Paul Cerca – Roots Butchery Daveyton

"I would like to thank the Omega team and all its personnel for their new and exciting project that they have delivered and installed in our store. The equipment is operating very well and we can only see good results coming from their product. Well done to the entire Omega factory team and all those involved."

O. Pretorius - Tembisa Spar

All of the complements and praise are testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into every project that Omega Refrigeration undertakes, and it is with this work ethic and commitment that the company looks forward to a bright future.

...

FRIGAIR Expo 2015 Saw Omega Reveal 'The Final Solution'

Omega Refrigeration was present at FRIGAIR Expo 2015 in June, 2015 as one of the many companies within the refrigeration industry that attended the international trade fair for air conditioning and refrigeration in South Africa.

Held every three years in Johannesburg, it is the only international trade fair in the refrigeration industry in South Africa. As refrigeration and energy technology continues to develop rapidly, it is important to remain at the cutting edge and in tune with the latest developments, trends and innovations. This is second nature to Omega Refrigeration, as one of the most innovative companies within the industry.

The FRIGAIR Expo gives such companies a unique platform for this purpose, with a specific focus on energy efficiency and environmental considerations. For this reason, a collection of developers, engineers, architects, contractors, training providers, entrepreneurs, engineers and designers meet to learn about the market development, the progress and the latest research results.

The event is also used as a networking opportunity with regards to chambers of commerce, consulates and agencies with a strong presence in Africa, as well as other like-minded companies within the industry.

Omega takes advantage of this international trade fair to unveil new advancements in its offering to the supermarket and foodservice industries. This was the case at the most recent expo in 2015, when Omega used the platform to introduce the company's 'The Final Solution', namely Omega's self-contained water cooled refrigeration cabinets.

Using the latest patented technology Omega is now able to offer a unique methodology to cutting costs, consumption and installation time, addressing the needs of the supermarket and foodservice industry while firmly leading that refrigeration industry into the future.

The OIS (Omega Inverter Series) Sistema is at the cutting edge of commercial refrigeration technology. Over 15 years of research and development has gone into developing this system, with the specific goal of producing energy efficient systems for refrigeration.

Highly efficient horizontal BLDC compressors maximise unit efficiency, while the wide range of modulation of the Power + DC inverter and the E2V stepper electronic expansion valve see that each individual unit always operates in the best working conditions, without being affected by the other units.

Compressor and valve modulation, thanks to intelligent control by OIS, ensures perfect control of food temperature, completely eliminating the typical fluctuations of remote systems, while providing in-depth information on refrigeration system status, and applying advanced algorithms for preventive diagnostics and general maintenance.

The waterloop system is designed so that every cabinet has its own self-contained refrigeration unit with an on-board variable-speed compressor, which is installed in a box either on top or under the cabinet.

Operation is completely monitored by the PlantVisorPRO supervisory system, which shows only the main information needed by specific users at a local and remote level, while also allowing overall system efficiency to be optimised according to the operating conditions of each individual unit. Those in attendance at the FRIGAIR Expo in 2015 were exposed to this incredible technology, and it has transformed the industry.

The next FRIGAIR Expo will take place in 2018, as the expo happens every three years, and Omega Refrigeration will be one of the major exhibitors available at the world-renowned event.

...

Omega Refrigeration Is A National SPAR Group Supplier

Omega Refrigeration's hard work in the industry was rewarded in previous years with the recognition of being considered a preferred supplier of refrigeration equipment and systems for the SPAR Group supermarket chain.

Omega's approval led to the company being officially listed as a national supplier to the SPAR Group, meaning that the refrigeration specialists are amongst an elite group of companies trusted to supply and service SPAR stores throughout South Africa.

Omega Refrigeration is an established company specialising in the commercial refrigeration needs of the supermarket and foodservice industries, with a combination of expertise in cabinet manufacturing and refrigeration contracting working in favour of brands such as SPAR.

With a combined experience of over 75 years in the refrigeration industry, Omega is known for their ability to manufacture refrigeration cabinets of superior quality for installers, contractors and store owners. The news of the official approval was communicated to Omega via a letter from Willem Viljoen, Head of Design & Development at the SPAR Group.

SPAR national suppliers such as Omega are selected through an extensive approval process, which includes financial, quality, experience and safety considerations, as well as the ability to service the SPAR Group on a national level.

Positive past experiences with the SPAR Group also helped to ensure compliance, while a support infrastructure in the six major national regions throughout South Africa was an important reality in this case.

Omega Refrigeration exceeded all of the required criteria, and SPAR has displayed confidence in the company's ability to be a successful supplier to the group for a long time to come. Omega is proud to be able to contribute to the success of their clients or installation contractors through refrigeration expertise, and they aim to meet requirements by designing and where necessary implementing the perfect solution for their refrigeration needs.

This method of conducting business has served the company well, as has contributed greatly to their consistent growth in the market, and their ability to innovate and respond to challenges with the best solutions involving refrigerated cabinets, the systems that are present within them, or a combination of both.

...

New Omega Slim Line Cabinets Modernised Through Innovation

Omega Refrigeration is a company that is dedicated to innovation as a rule. The refrigeration industry is one that is consistently evolving to meet the needs of all stakeholders, and Omega's innovation is geared to responding to the nature of the industry.

It is with this in mind that Omega Refrigeration has worked to refine its display cabinet proposition, developing and designing a new Omega Slim Line range of cabinets that continue the trend of exceptional and modern product development which the company is known for.

With an eye on the current trends across the European market, the thought leaders at Omega worked to enhance the cabinets from the various perspectives available. By combining the latest innovation with experience and expertise, the company has produced cabinets capable of delivering performance and aesthetic excellence for supermarkets and others in the foodservice industry that benefit from display cabinets.

While Omega is always on a mission to update and maintain its place as an industry leader in cabinet design, it also appreciates that some stores will enjoy the older design. This is why the company reassures clients that the current look will remain available for any supermarket or retailer that prefers it.

Taking a closer look at the design of the new Omega Slim Line cabinets, a number of features have been built in to add value by modernising the range and making it more pleasant on the eye.

Some of the new design cabinet features include the following:

The extended rounded hood piece has been shortened to line up with the base of the cabinet. The rounded hood piece has been replaced with a new flat parsecs plastic hood that gives the illusion and feel of glass without the risk of cracks.

The rubber bumper has to been converted to a more flat and modern look, thus creating a sharp finish to the cabinet in which all components line up exactly for a smoother design.

Tubed stainless steel double bumpers have been added to the cabinet in order to offer the same longevity that became an important benefit of the highly successful previous Omega range.

The new modernised square look has been implemented across the full Omega supermarket range of cabinets, allowing the retailers involved to keep a modern flow throughout the supermarket.

The next five years will see the industrial refrigeration equipment industry grow to be worth around $36.25 billion. This is expected due to changing food habits and the improved trade of food products around the globe.

According to the most recent stats the industrial refrigeration equipment market in 2015 was worth an estimated $24 billion. This research is available due to a new report published by Zion Research.

To reach the expected value of $36.25 billion by the end of 2021, the industry will experience expansion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of just above 7% over the next five years. Industrial refrigeration equipment is widely used in food and beverage production, cold storage, warehousing, and the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, and all of these parts of the process require temperature controlled handling of raw materials and in-process materials.

Changing food habits and the improved international trade of food products will have a supportive effect on the industrial refrigeration equipment industry, leading to market growth over the coming years.

Food production and processing is the leading segment that is expected to experience growth during the next five years. That segment of the market was responsible for over 24% market share in 2015.

According to the research, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa are the major regional segments of the market. Interestingly, the demand for industrial refrigeration equipment was highest in the Asia-Pacific area, with Latin America and emerging countries such as South Africa showing promising growth during the last few years.

Rapid growth of the food processing industry along with the expansion of refrigerated warehouses in developing countries is expected to increase the demand for industrial refrigeration during the next few years.

In South Africa, Omega Refrigeration uses the latest technology available from a global perspective, offering a world-class range of unique cold display cabinets and hot self-service sales cases that boast superior quality, functionality and price.

Fast forward five years, and there are now more than 2,000 cabinets installed from the Congo (DRC) through to Cape Town and in major and flagship supermarket outlets throughout South Africa.

This experience has taught us a thing or two about the system, its efficiencies, performance and installation, while revealing the excellent advantages produced by the cabinets using this system.

Here are six major ways in which Omega Refrigeration cabinets produce savings for supermarkets and other stores:

Saving time and effort – Omega Cabinets come in standard unit lengths of 4',6', 8 and 12'. This makes planning, ordering, installation and service access far simpler, which translates to savings in terms of time, effort and money, especially in the initial phase where there is a need to open the store doors on time in order to allow the store to become profitable and operate normally.

Saving energy – Self-contained water cooled cabinets are inherently more efficient than remote cabinets because no energy is required to push the refrigerant to the cabinet and suck the gas back. Add to this the fact that Omega advanced self-contained water loop cabinets are fitted with all the modern electronic valves, controls and variable speed compressors that make for a highly efficient cabinet, and the best possible energy efficiency is a given.

Saving money – The Omega cabinets are designed to deal well with the refrigeration needs of hot climates in particular, as this often causes issues and costs more, while the heat other cabinet systems pump into the store is problematic. In addition, the advantage of self-contained compared with remote refrigerated cabinets is that they eliminate the need for hundreds and hundreds of meters of expensive trenching and tubing, skilled technicians and a dedicated room for the multiplex plant. This makes the set-up far less expensive, less complex and much faster.

The installed cost of an Omega self-contained closed water loop refrigeration is about 10% less than a comparable multiplex remote cabinet set-up. The Omega system is also designed for easy maintenance with a swap out compressor unit that slides in under the cabinet. Around 75% of all Omega cabinets in a store will use the 2.2Kw unit and the balance a smaller one. This means that with just two swap out units on hand store staff can easily keep all the cabinets running and prevent stock losses.

Less refrigerant needed - The total refrigerant load in a self-contained store is approximately a third of that of a multiplex powered remote cabinet store. This contributes to a lower initial installation cost while reducing the cost of fixing gas leaks and the cost of replacing the gas. An example to illustrate this saving is visible when you consider that a store with 67 remote cabinets would typically have a total of around 900kg of gas.

With the cost of gas running up to R500/kg that's a great deal of gas and money required to replace a gas leak in a single or double multiplex system. With less than 3.8 Kg in an Omega self-contained cabinet there's much less to lose. Beyond that fact, the likelihood of a gas leak is far lower due the fact that the Omega self-contained power pack is built and gassed in the controlled environment of a production line, and not on site.

Tax savings - While Omega cabinets provide ongoing cost savings in terms of maintenance and running costs, there is also the matter of the carbon tax to consider. The 2017 carbon tax will force companies to invest in energy saving and lower carbon-emitting technologies, and the refrigeration industry will be impacted immensely. Those with low energy options will be very grateful for their innovative operations, and this is precisely what Omega cabinets provide to supermarkets and stores.

Less wastage of perishables - Omega self-contained cabinets are driven by variable speed compressors, and these constantly adjust the speed according to the refrigeration demand. This not only eliminates the noise and energy drain of the stop-start operation typical of fixed speed compressors, but also restricts the average temperature variation in the cabinet over a 24 hour period to less than 1C.

In comparison with multiplex and simplex driven remote cabinets, the stop-start nature of their operation produces a 4C temperature variation. This kind of variation can mean the difference between your perishables going bad and lasting a few days longer, as certain types of perishables such as meat require very specific and consistent temperatures.

...

Omega's Innovative Cabinet Design Benefits Stores

As with all companies that strive for excellence, the need to continuously innovate and improve systems and cabinets is high on the list of Omega Refrigeration's priorities. With this in mind, the company has produced a new cabinet design that further improves the provision of cabinets available to South African and African customers.

The efficiency of the cabinet is directly proportional to the amount of energy required in a store, and therefore the amount of energy and money saved in a supermarket. Simply put, the more efficient the cabinet, the less refrigeration is required from the refrigeration plant.

To this end, customers can count on Omega to help them lower energy and save costs in the running of their stores from a refrigeration perspective. This is because Omega cabinets, whether self-contained or remote, 8' or 12' long, whether frozen or chilled, all operate on less than 2Kw of power consumption.

In comparison, the specifications for most other cabinets will require far more electricity consumption, because they require a larger amount of refrigeration output in order to reach the desired temperature.

In certain cases cabinets could require up to 6.5 kw at -7 suction temperature. When considering some of the larger display cabinets in the Omega range, the Omega upright requires 1.89Kw input and only requires 4.66Kw of refrigeration capacity for a lofty. This saving of power is available across the range of cabinets produced by Omega for the supermarket industry.

Omega's cabinet efficiency is a direct result of its developmental history. Omega Refrigeration was founded as a company based on a new refrigeration concept known as the closed water loop self-contained cabinet.

To keep the self-contained cabinet competitive with modern remote cabinets in terms of the look, dimensions and display space the power pack was kept small. In order to make the small compressor work, the cabinet had to be far more efficient.

Consistent innovation on the part of Omega led to superior insulation and developments such as active air flow management to minimize air spillage. Special high efficiency coil fins were designed and patented, while programmable electronic control fans converted the displays into high performance cabinets. These leading edge design features are part and parcel of all modern Omega cabinets, regardless of the refrigeration system that powers them.

While the consumer shopping in the store only notices the sleek, uniform and branded cabinet frontage, the store owner understands the vast benefits that Omega cabinets provide thanks to years of research and development that has gone into the creation of the ultimate refrigeration cabinet.

...

Developments From The IIAR 2016 Industrial Refrigeration Confex

In April the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) 2016 Industrial Refrigeration Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida took place. At the expo over 1,500 people attending experienced the latest in industrial refrigeration innovation from 148 exhibitors over four action-packed days.

Through workshops, panels, forums and other expressions of technical information, the Florida-based event allowed companies to present the future of refrigeration through the advances that they are implementing in industrial refrigeration.

With this in mind, here are a few of the interesting innovations:

Century Refrigeration - Centinel Intelligent Defrost Control System

Century Refrigeration used the opportunity to demonstrate their Centinel intelligent defrost control system, which is an electronically operated evaporator controller designed to save energy in refrigeration systems through the precise control of superheat and fans. This reduces compressor run time and implements demand defrosts thanks to a microprocessor-driven controller, four temperature sensors, and a suction transducer. In addition, the self-learning algorithm used by the Centinel intelligent defrost control system sees it customise itself to each individual evaporator.

GEA Refrigeration Technologies – Omni Control Panel

The Omni control panel developed by GEA Refrigeration Technologies is a system designed with the end-game of being a command center for refrigeration and gas compression control. The need for auxiliary control systems is eliminated, as it can control and monitor relevant system components from GEA and other companies. This includes elements of the entire system, from compressors, liquid re-circulators and wet bulb floating discharge pressure, to engine room safeties, and ventilation.

Jamison Door Co. – Air Curtain

Another interesting advancement that was on show at the confex was Jamison Door Co.'s Model AC conditioned air curtain, which produces counterflow forces equal and opposite to the two-way flow-through forces caused by air temperature differences. This system mixes air at the interface between room air and the air curtain's airstream, thereby significantly reducing two-way air exchange and diminishing air infiltration. The company suggests that it is well-suited for open doorways, such as cooler-to-cooler, cooler-to-ambient, and freezer-to-freezer applications.

Innovation is a core element of what we do at Omega Refrigeration, with the latest advances in technology used within the systems and cabinets that we produce and provide for clients, thereby passing on savings in cost and efficiency for the supermarkets and retailers who we work with.

Using the latest technology available globally, Omega offers a world-class range of unique cold display cabinets and hot self-service sales cases that boast superior quality, functionality and price. Omega is consistently innovating and developing improvements that impacts the South Africa refrigeration industry positively.

We are very proud of our Omega Refrigeration Eco Retail Monitoring Solution, which delivers value for refrigerated systems in supermarkets or stores by ensuring that problems are diagnosed accurately and quickly so that they can be fixed, allowing the system to continue running optimally. This is done by constantly monitoring the system for any temperature fluctuations, so that we can immediately detect if anything needs to be addressed, and dispatch a service team to fix any issues that are detected.

...

Omega Eco Retail Monitoring Solutions – The Best In The Business

There is no better peace of mind for a supermarket owner or manager with regards to refrigeration than to know that their refrigeration issues will be dealt with professionally and efficiently before they are even aware of a problem.

Omega Eco delivers value for refrigerated systems in supermarkets or stores by ensuring that problems are diagnosed accurately and quickly so that they can be fixed, allowing the system to continue running optimally.

This is done by constantly monitoring the system for any temperature fluctuations, so that Omega can immediately detect if anything needs to be addressed, and they then dispatch a service team to fix any issues that are detected.

Every temperature spike or power failure is tracked and responded to proactively, therefore preventing loss of perishable food, reducing cabinet maintenance costs and enabling advanced energy and operational analytics, which lead to further savings with regards to operating costs.

The risks of not monitoring refrigeration systems well are clear, with the potential for losing large quantities of stock or mistakenly selling perishables that have gone rotten to customers and risking store customers becoming sick as a result.

For this reason refrigeration cabinets need monitoring to ensure that any failures or minor temperature changes are immediately noticed and fixes can be put into place to protect the stock of the store and the consumers who buy from the store.

This can save stores a fortune, as a typical supermarket may have hundreds of thousands of Rands worth of perishable dairy, meat, seafood and frozen food products requiring reliable refrigeration at any given moment. Monitoring such stores manually would require specific people to be hired for that purpose, but with the Omega monitoring system human error is eliminated and costs are saved.

Omega Eco's monitoring centre collects and manages temperature alarms linked to the stores it serves, allowing their advanced and precise system to react in real time and dispatch service teams as needed, saving stores huge amounts of money due to less wastage and well-maintained refrigeration.

…

Loadshedding Points To Importance Of Energy Efficiency

Loadshedding had a severe financial impact on South African food production in 2015, according to an expert at energy efficiency company, Energy Partners.

With the threat of loadshedding not completely behind South Africans just yet, and Eskom likely to be under increased pressure this winter, the effect on the country’s food production and refrigeration needs to be considered.

The Eskom policy of sharing power via scheduled outages in revolving areas taught the retail refrigeration industry about the importance of energy efficiency in keeping perishables fresh.

Dawie Kriel is the head of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration at Energy Partners, and last year he admitted that loadshedding affected primary food production, post-harvest handling and the retail sector.

Speaking at the peak of loadshedding last year, Kriel said, “The interrupted electricity supply is costing the local food production industry millions every month and could be depriving South Africa of quality nutrition.”

In addition to that, the disruption of the cold chain through power instability affects the retail sector, with the safe handling and storage of perishable foods at risk within supermarkets and other parts of the cold chain that require refrigeration.

“If the cold chain is disrupted, shelf life is affected and shop owners either have to remove affected products from their shelves or face unhappy customers who return inedible products,” he said.

This means that the parts of the retail sector that require heavy amounts of power need to be as energy efficient as possible, including refrigeration.

“Lights, refrigeration, ovens and all other energy intensive elements must be as energy efficient as possible and energy usage must be monitored closely. Once this has been implemented, store owners can invest in standby generation and solar power, especially if they trade mostly during daylight hours,” Kriel added.

At Omega Refrigeration the systems and cabinets are built with energy efficiency at the core of the design. Energy efficiency therefore leads to immediate and long-term cost saving, and as far as loadshedding is concerned, Omega systems lessen the need for the Eskom policy because of the superior energy efficiency that comes standard with all systems that the company installs.

…

Global Commercial Refrigeration Market Worth $38 Billion By 2018

The consistent industrialisation and modernisation present in food retail throughout the world, and especially within developing countries such as South Africa, China and India will assist the global commercial refrigeration equipment industry to be worth $38 billion in 2018.

The ‘World Commercial Refrigeration Equipment’ report predicts the growth of the industry over the coming year, and it is assumed that for 21 countries in the report, improving economic conditions will drive demand for commercial refrigeration. This is based on the fact that commercial refrigeration equipment purchases were kept at a minimal level throughout most of the period between 2003 and 2008, as a result of the global economic downturn.

Changes in refrigerant and efficiency regulations are expected to have positive effects with regards to sales of commercial refrigeration equipment in most global markets. This is especially likely in most of the developed world, such as Western Europe and the US, as numerous refrigerants are phased out and commercial settings are focused on a reduction in power usage, forcing commercial refrigeration equipment to be replaced in order to ensure compliance.

It is predicted that reach-in and walk-in refrigerators and freezers will experience high demand during the forecast period. High demand for commercial refrigeration parts will produce further gains for the industry. Developed markets will require retrofitting of current equipment to ensure energy efficiency, while developing countries will experience growth through the maintenance of existing refrigeration. The report suggests that China will continue to be the world’s fastest growing commercial refrigeration equipment market, as its food and beverage industry continues to evolve and develop.

India is amongst the developing countries which are making cold chain development a priority by constructing warehouses and other facilities for freezing or chilling food awaiting transport, to deal with the demand for fresh food products and a rising interest in imported foods and modern processed foods.

In South Africa, Omega Refrigeration uses the latest technology available globally, offering a world-class range of unique cold display cabinets and hot self-service sales cases that boast superior quality, functionality and price. This ensures that the coming growth will be catered to by an experienced company with the expertise to provide commercial refrigeration equipment on a grand scale.

While developing nations have a great deal of room for industry growth, increases in demand in developed nations will be important as far as the whole picture is concerned, despite the fact that growth remains below the global average. This is where the US market is a big contributor, as the largest national market for commercial refrigeration equipment due to the expansive foodservice and food retail industries present in the market.

…

Omega Inverter Series Waterloop System - Refrigeration Technology At Its Best

Technology continues to provide society with ways in which to achieve their goals through use of new and innovative methods, which help to advance the industry in question. Refrigeration is no different, and Omega Refrigeration’s Inverter Series Waterloop System is the epitome of technological advancement.

The OIS (Omega Inverter Series) Sistema is at the cutting edge of commercial refrigeration technology, providing South African and supermarkets and retailers with a world class refrigeration solution that is designed with their needs in mind.

Over 15 years of research and development has gone into the Omega systems with the specific goal of producing energy efficient systems for refrigeration.

This is made possible with the use of highly efficient horizontal BLDC compressors which maximise unit efficiency, while the wide range of modulation of the Power + DC inverter and the E2V stepper electronic expansion valve ensures that each individual unit always operates in the best working conditions, without being affected by other units.

Compressor and valve modulation handles the balance of food temperatures through intelligent control by OIS, completely eliminating the typical fluctuations of remote systems, while providing in-depth information on refrigeration system status, and applying advanced algorithms for preventive diagnostics and general maintenance.

The waterloop system from Omega has been designed so that every cabinet has its own self-contained refrigeration unit with an on-board variable-speed compressor, which is installed in a box either on top or under the cabinet.

The heat of condensation generated by the compressor is not released into the surrounding environment. Instead, it is carried outside by a waterloop system to a simple dry cooler.

Flexibility is another important benefit, especially when considering the installation, as the system layout can be changed with absolute ease.

These systems save on refrigerant costs and have a much lower rate of leakages, because they are small factory tested units that are designed to work well in various temperatures.

This is an important consideration in South Africa, as the country’s higher average temperatures compared to most other parts of the world need to be taken into account when implementing refrigeration systems.

On the monitoring side, operation is monitored by the PlantVisorPRO supervisory system, which displays the main information needed by specific users at a local and remote level, while also allowing overall system efficiency to be optimised according to the operating conditions of each individual unit.

This kind of system is innovative, and provides a raft of beneficial features for the user, including guaranteed high efficiency, faster store set-up and lower costs, increased flexibility with the layout and required space in mind, less refrigerant required, as well as decreased maintenance necessary.

This all saves costs, and provides store owners and managers with an excellent refrigeration system designed with their specific requirements at the core of the functionality.

…

Glass Door Refrigerated Cabinet Market Set To Grow

The glass door refrigerated cabinet market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 8.6 percent during the forecast period between 2015 and 2023. This is according to a report compiled by Transparency Market Research titled: Glass Door Refrigeration Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 – 2023.

The rapid increase of supermarkets, hotels, and cafes, along with changing food consumption trends, and increasing food safety and quality regulations are amongst the major factors contributing growth to the global glass door refrigerated display cabinet market.

Other elements that are adding to the growth and adoption of glass door refrigerators amongst food and beverage, and retail industries include a growing retail network and food industry, a rise in consumer spending, and technologically advanced systems such as the Omega Inverter Series Waterloop System, which uses fluid for cooling, eliminating the need for a plant room, saving costs and energy.

Small-sized glass door refrigerators with critical-temperature-control features are also becoming increasingly popular for use in other industries, such as biomedical.

The global glass door refrigerator market was valued at around $6,5 billion in 2014.

Such display cabinets with glass doors also form an important element of a relatively new trend that continues to do well, with supermarket restaurants popping up as an interesting new way that people are able to shop for fresh food or sit and have a meal while getting their other groceries.

Supermarket restaurants are stores which allocate space inside their premises for restaurants and enhanced freshly prepared food which is on display. These stores, known by some as groceraunts (grocery store restaurants) are now in direct competition with traditional restaurants.

In fact, according to a study titled, "The Sophistication of Supermarket Fresh Prepared Foods", the restaurant industry has grown by an annual rate of around 2 percent between 2006 and 2014, while sales of supermarket freshly prepared foods grew at around 10.4 percent year on year during that time.

When supermarkets display freshly made food in glass refrigerated display cabinets, they give the perception of freshness due to the fact that the ingredients to create the foods on show are in the same store and can be easily accessed.

The popularity of such display cabinets in the supermarket setting is understandable; as the produce is kept at the necessary cold temperatures or even frozen while the store is able to keep the produce on display for customers to easily view through the glass. From a freshly prepared point of view they serve both purposes, and customers can easily see and grab the food they wish to consume by simply opening the glass door.

Omega Refrigeration is specialised in the design and manufacturing of a full range of refrigerated display cabinets for various segments of the foodservice and supermarket industries, with a huge variety ranging from jumbo and wide islands to upright cabinets and upright glass door cabinets, as well as hot food options.

Omega has been at the forefront of refrigeration technology and cabinet manufacturing since its inception, and continues to focus energy on leading the industry in terms of expertise and innovation.

…

Pick n Pay Pilot Scheme Improving Spaza Shop Refrigeration

An innovative partnership between supermarket chain Pick n Pay and the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED) has produced the first ever spaza-to-store conversion, which includes completely refurbished refrigeration that allows the store to carry refrigerated fresh produce.

The Monageng Market opened in Diepkloof, Soweto, at the end of February, and is the first in a selection of spaza-shops in the informal retail trade sector to be converted into modern micro stores.

Using the assistance of certain suppliers, Pick n Pay worked with owner Solly Legae to completely refurbish his store, which now enjoys new refrigeration and IT systems. The store is still small in size, but it now benefits from 800 lines of edible and non-edible groceries as well as fresh produce and perishables, which require refrigeration that was previously not a possibility in the spaza set up.

A butchery section with fresh refrigerated meat, and various display cabinets that keep the food and beverages fresh while putting them on display for customers have been added to the store.

Omega Refrigeration supports stores of various sizes with regards to their refrigeration needs. From the largest supermarkets that required countless refrigeration cabinets to the corner bakery with a small display, Omega offers innovative, customised and long-lasting refrigeration to fit every application and budget.

Spar uses Omega as a preferred refrigeration partner, while OBC is another client that Omega serves, supporting the low to mid-market sectors by providing quality, affordability and convenience.

According to a 2016 report by consumer behaviour monitor, Nielsen South Africa, the informal or independent retail trade sector is worth around R46 billion in annual sales, with an estimated 9 million households shopping in traditional trade stores.

Chris Reed, group executive for franchise of Pick n Pay discussed the spaza conversions, saying: “Many independent township traders are experiencing tough times as the economy tightens and competition becomes more intense. When we talk to spaza owners about the challenges and how we might help, they frequently identify better access to quality products at good prices, a reliable distribution system, good business management systems, and business advice and mentorship as priority areas for them.”

“Pick n Pay’s successful franchise operation has been a strong base for many years for developing new entrepreneurs and building new business leaders, including young black entrepreneurs. We are excited about adapting strong elements of our franchise model to support independent SMMEs and make a contribution to the economic revitalisation of township communities,” he added.

Pick n Pay is currently investing R5 billion over the next two years in new store development and infrastructure, which will include a significant investment in refrigeration.

As refrigeration specialists Omega Refrigeration provide systems and cabinets for supermarkets and stores to ensure that their refrigeration requirements are met with excellent solutions that provide a variety of benefits to store owners and consumers who purchase refrigerated products.

Climate change is a problem that is affecting our planet, and each country is beginning to awaken to the fact that something needs to be done to address the damage that is being caused to the environment.

Carbon emissions form part of the problem, and companies are beginning to embrace the need to limit these as much as possible. Carbon tax laws are a way for government to incentivise a focus on renewable energy and a change of consumer behaviour in environmentally friendly terms to reduce carbon emissions, while the tax would also provide some additional revenue for government.

Recognising the importance of reducing carbon emissions while appreciating the benefits of a low carbon economy, the South African government has committed to ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reductions of 34% by 2020 and 42% by 2025 against a business-as-usual curve.

One of the ways that this can begin to be achieved is through the initiation of a carbon tax, which is to be administered by the South African Revenue Service.

While the road and air travel industries are major causes of carbon emissions, refrigeration and air conditioning are also substantial contributors of greenhouse gas emissions.

Most supermarkets and food retail stores make use of refrigeration that leaks some of the refrigerant used. That leakage has a significant environmental impact, because the most common refrigerants are made of ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), which contains harmful greenhouse gases.

Omega Refrigeration is aware of the need to put the focus squarely on green initiatives, in an effort to reduce the carbon footprint in the stores that use the Omega Refrigeration cabinets and systems.

With carbon tax laws set to be implemented in South Africa at some point, the more energy efficient and less refrigerant dependant supermarkets become in terms of their refrigeration, the better it is from many perspectives, which is why an association with Omega Refrigeration is beneficial for these retailers.

Omega’s self-contained waterloop refrigeration system installed in refrigeration cabinets allows for the reduction of operating costs through better energy efficiency than conventional systems. At the same time this process reduces carbon emissions, as less refrigerant is needed and there is a much lower rate of leakages - This is due to the fact that Omega factory-tests all units.

Indications suggest that the proposed initial marginal carbon tax rate of R120 per ton CO2-e will be affected by numerous tax-free thresholds and discounts, allowing the effective carbon tax rate to vary between R6 and R48 per ton CO2-e.

The exact details involving how a carbon tax would be administered in South Africa are not all available at this stage, but government says that it will phase it in slowly so that businesses and industries affected are not overwhelmed.

…

‘Electrify Africa Act’ To Increase Refrigeration On The Continent

At the beginning of February, US Congress passed the Electrify Africa Act, which is designed to give a push to the provision of electricity access for people in sub-Saharan Africa who are currently living without reliable electricity.

President Barack Obama signed the act into law recently, after the two years it took to convince the Congress representatives to approve the bill.

According to Voice of Africa, Ed Royce, the chairman of the house foreign affairs committee in California, explained what the bill is trying to address.

Royce said: “It is a direct response to the fact that today 600 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa, which is 70% of the population, do not have access to reliable electricity.”

This means that at the moment millions of Africans cannot use certain basic necessities such as lighting and refrigeration.

They cannot refrigerate foods or medicines, but this initiative will change that over time, allowing refrigeration an expanded platform in Africa, with supermarkets throughout the continent then able to run successfully and provide those living there with refrigerated food and medicine, not to mention the jobs and opportunities that will be created.

The Electrify Africa Act is designed to provide a legal framework for Obama's flagship Power Africa scheme, which is trying to improve access to electricity through public-private partnerships, which will further benefit the refrigeration industry on the continent.

The inclusion of renewable energy resources in the electricity provision strategies of African countries is another important outcome that the act intends to address, as the current lack of electricity forces some people in sub-Saharan Africa to use charcoal and other toxic fuels for their energy needs.

This touches on yet another important consideration in the refrigeration industry, as renewable energy is key to sustainability, especially for supermarkets and stores in Africa which intend to save on energy due to the environmental impact, as well as the more obvious cost-saving benefits.

The Electrify Africa Act will serve to provide those who do not yet have electricity with many incredible tools and resources that are now part of a modern life for people around the world, not least of which is refrigeration, which will revolutionise many lives for the better.

The American government has made financial promises of $7 billion to support the scheme, which it expects to draw a further $43bn in investment via other public and private partners.

Omega Refrigeration looks forward to also servicing stores within sub-Saharan African communities currently without reliable electricity, with their new refrigeration requirements.

…

Recent Heat Waves Highlight Importance Of Refrigeration

Recent days have seen temperatures in the North West province reach beyond 40 degrees Celsius, while the national weather service reveals that 32 temperature records have already been broken in 2016.

A town called Marico in Kwazulu Natal reached an incredible 45 degrees, and while these temperatures are certainly not the norm, they do highlight the important role that refrigeration plays in ensuring food safety.

Heat waves have battered South Africa this summer, and while the water shortage and severe drought conditions have impacted food security, the safety of the food we consume is under threat as it will inevitably spoil if not stored and refrigerated correctly.

“Proteins are specifically susceptible to spoiling in hot weather. Meats and fish are high in animal proteins which are volatile and quickly develop bacteria,” Otto explained.

The bacteria that forms then leads to cases of food poisoning, vomiting and diarrhoea, and this is statistically most prevalent in South Africa between November and April, as these are the hottest months for the country.

A 2015 World Health Organisation (WHO) report revealed that diarrhoea diseases were responsible for more than half of the global burden of foodborne diseases, causing 550 million people to become sick and leading to 230,000 deaths per year, with children in particular danger.

It is estimated that around 600 million people become ill after consuming contaminated food, much of which is due to lack of sufficient refrigeration. This is especially prevalent in Africa, where temperatures are high in summer months.

Otto suggested that refrigerators be set between 3 and 5 degrees, and freezers between minus 10 and minus 12 degrees to operate optimally.

“These are the recommended temperatures for the safe storage of foods that require refrigeration. However, during this hot weather it is advisable to take an insulated bag along with you should you be buying perishable foods, as some foods deteriorate rapidly,” said Otto.

…

Omega Refrigeration Takes HACCP Guidelines Seriously

As the international standard for food safety controls, the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system plays a vital role in the food service industry, and in refrigeration in particular.

Consumers are increasingly aware of the need to focus on food quality, and they expect the companies that produce, store and refrigerate their food to be ever vigilant concerning standards of food quality. Retailers are required by law to be able to store and supply food that requires refrigeration according to predefined temperatures.

This is done to ensure that the products that reach the final consumer are fresh and safe to buy and consume. The responsibility for food safety falls on the shoulders of the food manufacturer and distributor, but at Omega we partner with supermarkets and other stores to make HACCP compliance easier through cutting edge technology.

Omega Refrigeration holds itself to the highest standards of regulation compliance, which is why adherence to HACCP guidelines is a given. One of the major guidelines related to HACCP is the need for temperature monitoring to ensure that perishables remain fresh by maintaining the consistent temperatures required.

This is one of the important benefits of the Omega Eco Monitoring system, which allows for strict remote monitoring of refrigerated systems for any temperature anomalies, so that immediate action can be taken to address issues.

This system tracks every temperature spike or power failure, therefore preventing loss of perishable food, which goes to the core of what HACCP aims to do. This information is also stored as historical data, which can be used for the purposes of future audits.

Omega Ecotherefore assists in ensuring that stores do not lose stock, or even mistakenly selling some perishables that have gone rotten to customers. To monitor the stores manually would require reliable human resources that become costly, but with Omega Eco human error is eliminated and costs are saved.

Omega Eco’s monitoring centre collects and manages temperature alarms linked to the stores in real time, allowing the advanced system to react as needed and exceed expectations with regards to HACCP.

…

Unilever Opens Their First Ice Cream Factory In South Africa

Unilever, a multinational company with numerous products distributed in South Africa opened their first ice cream factory in the country in October 2015, providing numerous jobs and showing confidence in the South African market.

The factory was built at a cost of around $44.36m, and is situated in the Lords View Industrial Park in Midrand, Johannesburg. Being located within an environment friendly development, Unilever's factory uses smart technology to harvest rain water, and they recover and reuse water that was utilised within the production processes.

Unilever SA vice-president of manufacturing, Sandeep Desai, said: "The refrigeration and utilities services are specifically designed to reduce the energy consumed through efficient motors, drive mixers and air compressors. This, combined with decreased water usage and responsible waste disposal, has an exponentially positive effect on the factory’s environmental impact."

Unilever owns and operates 40 ice cream factories around the globe, with South Africa being their first factory on the African continent. They also have similar construction projects currently under way in China and Turkey.

Unilever owns Ola and Magnum, and as a result the ice cream factory produces recognisable brands such as Rich ’n Creamy, Cornetto, addelpop, Gino Ginelli, Fruttare and Magnum.

…

Formula One Contributes To Refrigeration Tech

Two industries that do not have many immediately obvious similarities have found common ground in technological terms, allowing for Formula One to provide the refrigeration industry with a way of reducing consumption.

A new aerodynamic device, which is currently under development by Williams Advanced Engineering in collaboration with Aerofoil Energy, could potentially affect the energy consumption of supermarket refrigerators by up to 41.5%.

Upgrades would not be problematic either, as these devices are designed so that they are added to existing cabinets.

Supermarkets and other similar stores are culpable of consuming great amounts of energy, affecting the bottom line of these companies. Naturally, the refrigeration used in these stores accounts for the majority of this consumption, with experts estimating that between 60 to 70% of the cost is down to refrigeration.

Interestingly, this boost for efficiency is born from a company dealing in Formula One developed technologies, with their extensive experience regarding aerodynamic design and testing in Formula One racing benefiting refrigeration in partnership with Aerofoil Energy.

The aerofoils are designed to attach to each shelf of a cabinet, so that it can manipulate the air flow to keep the cool air inside, reducing the workload needed to keep contents at specific temperatures.

Research conducted by Refrigeration Developments and Testing Ltd and the EPTA shows that the use of aerofoils on refrigerators can produce impressive energy savings of between 18 and 41.5%.

"We’re proud to be giving our fridges a turbo boost with this fantastic aerodynamic technology," the Managing Director of Williams Advanced Engineering, Craig Wilson told the media last year.

"Aerofoils help the airflow around Formula One cars and can improve their performance – and that’s exactly how they help the fridges in our stores, by keeping the cold air in. This Formula One inspired innovation has already shown it can cut carbon produced by major refrigerators," he added.